There is a formula to the chase-romance movie.  It involves a criminal on a getaway, picking up a girl (usually against her will), fleeing the cops and/or bad guys, and then the criminal and girl falling in love.  Hit & Run cleverly flips the genre by going in reverse, putting the romance before the chase, and letting it run on the chemistry of leads Dax Shepard (who also wrote and co-directed the film) and Kristen Bell.  However, as the film moves away from the romance, it begins to swerve on dull chase scenes and an uneven tone.  Hit & Run still manages to be a flighty and fun, but the reliance on coincidence and the difficulty balancing the comedy make Hit & Run a bumpy and forgettable ride.

With writer/director/star Dax Shepard’s new action rom-com Hit & Run opening in less than three weeks, we have a new TV spot to share with you today.  The film features Shepard as Charlie Bronson, a former getaway driver who enters into Witness Protection, but risks his anonymity when he offers to drive his girlfriend (Kristen Bell) to Los Angeles.  The duo find themselves chased by not only the Feds, but Charlie’s former criminal crew as well.  Also starring Tom Arnold, Bradley Cooper and David Koechner, Hit & Run opens August 22nd.  Hit the jump to check out the new TV spot.

If you enjoyed the first trailer for Dax Shepard’s action rom-com Hit and Run, you might like the new red-band trailer that just came out.  Shepard, who wrote and co-directed the picture with David Palmer, stars as a former wheelman for a gang of bank robbers.  When he exits the Witness Protection Program to drive his girlfriend (Kristen Bell) to Los Angeles, his old crew shows up and makes things a bit more complicated.  The red-band trailer features what you’d expect it to: gratuitous elderly nudity and a fair amount of rape jokes.

The film also stars Bradley Cooper, Kristin Chenoweth, Beau Bridges, David Koechner, Joy Bryant (Parenthood), and Ryan Hansen (Party Down).  Hit and Run hits theaters on August 24th.  Hit the jump to watch the NSFW red-band trailer.

The first trailer for the action romantic comedy Hit and Run has gone online.  Dax Shepard stars as an ex-getaway driver who exits the Witness Protection program to drive his pretty girlfriend to Los Angeles so that she can land her dream job.  The authorities and his former gang (led by Bradley Cooper) get wind of his reappearance and set out to chase him down.  Shepard wrote and co-directed the film with David Palmer, and it actually looks like a pretty fun comedy.  Cooper appears to be having a blast as a flashy gang member, and real-life couple Shepard and Bell have some excellent chemistry.  Moreover, Tom Arnold is in fine form as a U.S. Marshal who’s trying to protect Shepard’s character.

Hit the jump to watch the trailer.  The film also stars Kristin Chenoweth, Beau Bridges, David Koechner, Joy Bryant (Parenthood), and Ryan Hansen (Party Down).  Hit and Run hits theaters on August 24th.

Exclusive Media Group has acquired worldwide rights to the comedy Outrun. The “high-octane, action romantic comedy” was written by Dax Shepard, who will also star in and co-direct the film with David Palmer. Joining Shepard in the cast is Kristen Bell, Bradley Cooper, Tom Arnold, Kristin Chenoweth, Beau Bridges, David Koechner, Joy Bryant (Parenthood), and Ryan Hansen (Party Down). The film centers on an ex-getaway driver (Shepard) who exits the Witness Protection program to drive his pretty girlfriend (Bell) to Los Angeles so that she can land her dream job. The authorities and his former gang (led by Cooper) get wind of his reappearance and set out to chase him down. This isn’t Shepard’s first time behind the camera, as he also co-directed 2010’s Brothers Justice with Palmer.

This is a pretty great cast here, and I can see them having fun with the silly premise. I’m actually surprised Cooper is fitting the film into his schedule, as he’s quite the busy guy at the moment. He’s currently filming David O. Russell’s The Silver Linings Playbook, and he’s set to move on to Alex Proyas’ Paradise Lost next, followed by Steven Soderbergh’s The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Shepard has actually proved himself to be a solid dramatic actor on NBC’s vastly underrated Parenthood. The show comes from Friday Night Lights’ Jason Katims and if you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend you check it out. Hit the jump for the full press release regarding Outrun.

Ever since Arnold Schwarzenegger let it be known that he was ready to jump back into acting, everyone has been waiting to see what the actor will choose for his first film following his tenure as Governor of California. Well, one of the possible projects includes the ever-elusive sequel to James Cameron’s 1994 action-comedy True Lies. Now co-star Tom Arnold says a new script exists for the sequel and he sounds very optimistic:

I have read a great True Lies 2 script, and I hope we are able to do it. Knock on wood. Arnold Schwarzenegger is excited. I am excited….We have both read the script. There is a script that James Cameron and a guy named Jeff Eastin, who created the TV show White Collar, wrote. It is really great. Jim can’t direct it. But he can produce it. We hope it gets done. We have a few fun things we want to do. I am supposed to remain cool about this. For me, it would be a lot of fun to work with the guys again.

Now, this could very well be wishful thinking on Arnold’s part, given that Schwarzenegger has been offered roles in reboots/sequels/remakes of seemingly every film he’s ever made. But I, for one, would love to see the two team-up again. Hit the jump for more.

We have three pieces of casting news for you today.  First up, 24 Frames is reporting that Jennifer Garner is in talks to join Ron Howard’s upcoming comedy about cheating, unofficially titled Cheaters.  If she signs on, she’ll star alongside Vince Vaughn, Kevin James, and Winona Ryder.  Garner is currently prepping to star in the satirical comedy Butter, which also stars Kate Hudson, Ty Burrell, and Rob Corddry.

Hit the jump for casting news about Clive Owen and Tom Arnold.