CHIPS

Comedies are an interesting genre--couple that with one being a parody and it can make for great fodder in writing a good script. The '60s and '70s were amazingly ripe decades in order to write parodies that are very funny. Unfortunately, "CHIPS" did not hit the target in presenting us with a top notch parody.

 

Jon Baker (Dax Shepard) and Frank 'Ponch' Poncherello (Michael Pena) have joined the California Highway Patrol (CHP) in Los Angeles, but for very different reasons. Baker is a beaten-up former pro motorbiker trying to put his life and marriage to Karen (Kristen Bell) back together. Poncherello is a cocky undercover Federal agent investigating a multi-million dollar heist that may be an inside job--inside the CHP. The inexperienced rookie and the hardened pro are teamed together, but clash more than click, so the kick-starting a real partnership is easier said than done. But with Baker's unique bike skills and Ponch's street savvy, it might just work... if they don't drive each other crazy first.

 

Others to round out the cast are Jessica McNamee as Lindsey Taylor, Adam Brody as Clay Allen, Vincent D'Onofrio as Vic Brown, Ryan Hansen as Brian Grieves, Maya Rudolph as Sgt. Hernandez, Jackie Tohn as Amy Hansen, Mara Marini as Renee, Rosa Salazar as Ava Perez, Isiah Whitlock Jr. as Peterson, Richard T. Jones as Parish and Jane Kaczmarek as Capt. Jane Lindel.

 

This was directed by Dax Shepard ("Brother's Justice" '10, "Hit and Run" '12) plus TV and a short. His pacing and staging is a bit off, but given more work, I believe this filmmaker has promise. The characters emitted the right emotions, but the staging was a bit stiff. He is going to be directing a reboot of "Scooby-Doo", so we'll see how he does with that. It was also written by Shepard as well and this is where the problems develop. The premise could've been uproarious considering its basis is that of Rick Rosner's TV series of the same name, but the writing ended up lacking continuity and cohesiveness which it so drastically needed. Then it had to resort to, once again, many four-letter-words and sexual situations. Trust me, this guy has more promise than his writing counterparts of the same type of comedies, but considering this writer has the promise I see here, why does he have to resort to the same cheap shots the other lackluster writers pull in order to get those 18-34 year olds in those theater seats--ca-ching? Better luck next time Shepard.

 

Certainly if you're the demographic mentioned above, you'll probably love this, however if you're looking for more meat in your writing, pass on this one. Now I know why I waited to see this one. I just have to have more patience with Shepard--I know he can do it!

 

Out of 4 Stars: 2                                   Rated: R                                   101mins.