Fast Getaway

This film did not work on many levels. Its been covered on other previous reviews. I would have to agree, and that is why my rating is a 6. There is nothing more aggravating than a movie with big gaping holes in it. Especially in regards to some of the action sequences being absurdly unrealistic. In most cases, these things ruin a film. Not so in this film! Its just not the type of film for some reason that is ruined by such things. Go figure. In my opinion, This films strengths lie in the talent of its lead and the fun that I had as an audience member who was able to suspend his disbelief. Mr. Haim completely makes this possible.

I rented this movie because I've always enjoyed Corey Haim. Im a child of the 80z so... I think his performance as an actor in this is magnificent! Im an actor myself and let me tell ya, it isn't easy! An audience member may think its easy because all they see is the finished product. But the mark of a good actor is that they make it look easy! The work involved is very painstaking to say the least. There are so many moments where Corey plays the love, humor, mischief, etc... Actors don't play those things on screen very well generally speaking. What a rare talent! I give Mr. Haim a 12 out of 10 here. The movie. A 6. Peace and Love and you will be missed Corey Haim.

If a viewer sat to watch this without knowing anything of it, not even the year it was released, 'Fast getaway' reveals its nature as soon as it begins. We're treated to slightly dulled cinematography, a hot-headed teen protagonist, a father-son dynamic, light and ham-handed but sometimes unconvincing humor, and needless crass sexism in the dialogue and scene writing. None of these are exactly points in the movie's favor, and at no time could it be confused for anything but B-grade fare - while enjoyable, it's never robustly, actively engaging. Yet a little uncomplicated, cheesy action comedy has never hurt anyone, has it?

In fairness, the stunts and action sequences - mostly chase scenes - are done very well, and duly entertaining. Though we're treated to some tropes and predictable story beats, there are dashes of cleverness scattered throughout. Relegated to a small supporting role, it's nonetheless fun to watch Cynthia Rothrock turn up the playful smarm as conniving criminal conspirator Lilly, and there's minor gleeful energy in seeing her play opposite Ken Lerner as Lilly's notably less witty partner, Tony. Yes, Rothrock's martial arts skills are employed only to the same purposefully gauche ends, but that's no major fault. 'Fast getaway' will never be remembered for world-class acting, but the cast at large do a good job of embracing the spirit of the modest (if too often juvenile) romp.

Even bearing in mind the gawky, deliberate flavors that the film maintains, James Dixon's screenplay is a little overbearing at points. Even putting aside noted strains of sexism, the dialogue and scene writing is outright crude in some instances (boys will be boys, dontcha know, hyuk hyuk). The narrative is pretty unremarkable, not especially feeling any different from a slew of similar titles we've all seen at one time or another, and the same is true of the characters as written. The feature's technical craft, or rounding details like costume design, hair and makeup, and so on, are done well such as they are, but don't specifically inspire. 'Fast getaway' mostly occupies a familiar and well populated cinematic space, and it's hard for much about it to stand out.

Still, though definitely flawed, I can't say I didn't have a good time. The action is concretely ramped up at the climax, lending to a satisfying air of tension and suspense. Marcia Strassman lends a measure of welcome sincerity in her supporting role as Lorraine. All in all, I think my expectations were met rather squarely, if not in the ways I anticipated. It's nothing anyone ever needs to go out of their way to see, but if you're a particular fan of someone in the cast it's passable enough. Moreover, this is the type of picture to put on if you want something amusing but unsophisticated to help pass the time. I can't fathom any reason for 'Fast getaway' to earn a notably strong recommendation, but it's good enough as it is.

Corey Haim is so obnoxious in this film. I mean, he's by and large a terrible actor. No range whatsoever. But his character is so annoying here. And when he keeps saying "Pop" to his dad every few lines... it's like nails on a chalkboard. The whole movie is a waste of time. Some of the action was decent, but barely. No wonder it went straight to video when it was tested for audiences, and everyone hated. The directing is awful. No sense of tone, pacing, acting, humor, tension. It plays so flat and lazy. Save 90 mins of your life, and spend it staring at a wall... that would be a better use of time.

Watching this movie for the second time in maybe ten years, I would say that it really isn't that bad! There were certain lines in the movie that made me cringe, but Corey Haim and Leo Rossi made it work to their advantage. I wish the character of Lorraine would have had more screen time because she was a natural and meshed well, in my opinion, with Nelson (Haim) and Sam's (Rossi) personality. Corey's movies especially, the ones that went straight to video in the 90s would have been something I would have enjoyed in my pre teens to early teens, but you can't deny that he had a talent and charm that made him the kind of actor that you wish would have made it today. (It makes me sad how he went from Lucas to this because he was so good and he could have had more opportunities exploring complex characters, but that's another story...) Corey always finds chemistry with the people he plays opposite whether it is a love interest, a brother (ex. Firstborn, The Lost Boys), or in this case, a father/son relationship. Anne Hathaway said that Nicholas Galitzine could have chemistry with a lamp, I'd say Corey Haim did it first.

Good lord, I've got to stop wasting my money on movies from the post-1989 catalog of Corey Haim (except for Prayer of the Rollerboys, which was a decent surprise). This being, of course, yet another film in which those not so overly nostlagic will realize that Corey had hit rock bottom and would never recover.

Fast Getaway is the light-comedy adventures of a team of father-and-son bankrobbers. After a disagreement among their gang of four which included a clueless doofus and a black belt blonde, Nelson (Corey Haim) and his dad decide to rob banks alone. Only Nelson's dad expects it to be temporary, wanting his son to go legit so he can end up in law school or business school (the man has no clear idea of his expectations as to which graduate school track he expects his son to take other than whatever will allow an easy transition into white collar crime) much to the chagrin of Nelson, who loves the life of easy money. But, the team are not as invincible as they think they are when they're busted for robbing a bank in a squat town in Utah around the same time a stranger to the past enters their lives as does their scheming former partners.

It has all the depth of the notorious 'Cool as Ice' "action" film (ranked as one of the worst 100 movies on IMDb), and about as much of the same cheesy writing. I particularly enjoy the scene in which Nelson and dear old dad, trying to escape from the police by anchoring over a bridge, plunge thousands of feet straight down into shallow, rocky rapids and live to tell the tale...completely unscathed, mind you. Or, the finale in which brave Nelson is being dragged from a truck while holding onto a chain link fence that neither eletrocutes him or gets too hot to hold as it is scraped across the pavement for miles. Nor, does it flip with the sharp turns of the truck and the lack of support by his weight. And, I especially cringe at Corey Haim's half-concocted Italian-American accent that reared itself during random moments, not to mention his terrible array of slang, especially in many of the references to women.

Recommended for anyone who can watch any number of Corey Haim's early 90s disasters and actually find them enjoyable.