Getaway

Getaway

Rated PG-13 and Released in Grand Rapids 8/30/13

Reviewed 9/2/13 at Celebration North in Grand Rapids, MI

with Brandon

1 1/2 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

It seems like Ethan Hawke can do better than this. Although this might be about par for Selena Gomez.

Brent Magra (Hawke) has just learned his wife has been kidnapped in boring Bulgaria where they live. Brent has been ordered by an unknown caller (Jon Voight) to follow his instructions or she will die. Then the ridiculous starts. Magra steals a car and then the owner, referred to as "the kid" (Gomez) tries to steal it back and is forced to ride out the puzzle with Magra to get his wife back.

The rest of the plot (which there really isn't one), is fast car racing around the city, out running and out navigating every pursuer and policeman within 150 miles. The only cool aspect about the movie is the car - a Shelby Mustang Super Snake - but all the shifting Hawke does in the movie is like watching someone play a video game. We all know how boring that is! Gomez is cute, but her character as the whiz kid genius with technology and computers didn't cut it. Her performance comes off so clumsy and awkward, it was hard to watch. It would have been more believable if she was cast as an 80-year-old. The meager story comes to a conclusion with a few twists that really aren't too much of a surprise. If you are really desperate, or a 13- or 14-year-old guy, go ahead and see Getaway. Otherwise wait, or better yet skip this one all together.

QUIET Rating system: Jj

Quality: J

Understood story:  Jj

Interest: J

Entertainment:  J

Time:  Jj