By: Josh Martin
Sometimes Hollywood works in ways that nobody can quite understand. Joe Carnahan’s latest film, Stretch, was originally scheduled for a theatrical release in April and Universal was signed on as a distributor. But in the end, Universal ended up pulling the film off their release slate and decided to dump it unceremoniously into the VOD market in early October. The film, a satirical comedy about a limo driver set in Los Angeles, stars Patrick Wilson, Brooklyn Decker, Jessica Alba, James Badge Dale and Chris Pine. It is a high-energy action film with charm and wit to spare. Why was this sent straight to VOD? We’ll never truly know, but Stretch is still a film that you really need to see. It might not have the tightest story, but its characters and mood are infinitely appealing. This is an entertaining film from start to finish.
Stretch (Wilson) is a limo driver with no motivation in life anymore. He’s a recovering alcoholic,ex-cocaine addict and gambler. He eventually cleaned up, but his bombshell girlfriend (Decker) dumped him for an NFL quarterback. Now, he’s depressed and stressed and constantly seeing the ghost of the greatest limousine driver of all time, Karl (Ed Helms). We cut to the present day and a group of gang leaders inform Stretch that he has until midnight to deliver $6,000 of his gambling debts or he will be killed. To gain the necessary money, Stretch decides to drive a crazed billionaire client (Pine). Throughout the night, Stretch experiences all sorts of wacky adventures involving FBI agents, secret clubs and wanna-be rappers.
Stretch is a weird movie, but it’s a good kind of weird. The absurdity of the humor was quite endearing to me and the characters in this movie are funny and entertaining as well. Mix that in with great performances from Wilson and Pine, along with a great soundtrack and just a terrific vibe in general, and you’ve got a movie that is just plain fun. The story gets a little messy and wild at times, but this is a movie that is nuts and crazy and never slows down.
Wilson is an actor who has done good work in the past, but this is the first movie in which I’ve been truly impressed by his acting. He manages to be maniacal, likable and crazy, often at the same time. Wilson’s Stretch also narrates the film and is constantly providing amusing insight. I don’t typically like overbearing voice-over, but it worked in this case. In addition to Wilson’s great central performance, Pine does brilliantly unhinged work as Roger Karos, eccentric and possibly insane billionaire criminal. Whether it’s skydiving nude or dressing up like a samurai for a sexually charged party, Pine is down for anything and completely owns the role.
Stretch also doubles as a wicked Hollywood satire, so it’s not surprising that there are numerous cameos and small bit parts for famous actors. Helms is awesome as the ghost of a depressed limousine driver legend who haunts Stretch during the day. Alba, Decker, Shaun White, and David Hasselhoff make appearances as well.
Director/screenwriter Joe Carnahan is really the reason this movie works. I’ve praised the cast like crazy, but without Carnahan’s deranged and hilariously vulgar script and his terrific direction and pacing, this movie wouldn’t work at all. In the end, Stretch isn’t a masterpiece, but the wacky situations and strong performances are quite memorable, and Carnahan’s dialogue is deliciously bawdy. It’s disappointing that this film isn’t getting more exposure, but it’s good that Universal let it see the light of day. It’s extremely enjoyable and a movie that a lot of people should be seeking out.
THE FINAL GRADE: B+ (7.7/10)
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