'Hot Pursuit' Review Roundup: 'Nitwit Comedy' Starring Sofia Vergara and Reese Witherspoon
Although "Avengers: Age of Ultron" continued to dominate the box office during its second week of release, watched mostly by male viewers, many movie fans had expected the comedy "Hot Pursuit" to attract women to the theaters.
However, the film has drawn only bad reviews. Critics in general described the movie as stale and lacking in laughs.
In its review, The Hollywood Reporter called the film a "nitwit comedy" that has been foisted upon lead actresses Sofia Vergara, who plays the widow of a drug dealer, and Reese Witherspoon, who plays a cop helping her escape from criminals.
As they try to outsmart corrupt law officers and thugs, they embark on a road trip across Texas which turns out to be rather dull in spite of all the jokes littered throughout. The jokes exchanged by the two stars turn out to be a shade closer to slapstick lines. The cinematography also leaves something to be desired.
The film's pandering to a specific section of the audience is highlighted in the review by The Wall Street Journal which described the film as full of things that are "creaky and familiar." The reviewer went on to add that it is based on the old premise that two women can find common ground in spite of differing ethnic backgrounds, philosophies, religions and temperaments.
Describing the film as following the path trodden by other films,l Entertainment Weekly said there is nothing original about it and that it will leave the viewer with a case of "déjà vu."
Where the actresses really shine is in the blooper reel at the end of the movie, which shows more of their comedic talent. The laughs generated by the bloopers are even better than anything in the main film which sees the two stars straining to play their parts.