Chill Factor Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Two dudes drive an ice cream truck full of unstable bomb, pursued by ex-military dude and his goons because… reasons.

🍿 Chill Factor: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Experiment and Its Aftermath

The film opens with a disastrous military experiment on a remote island. A highly volatile chemical weapon, codenamed ‘Elvis,’ goes awry, killing eighteen soldiers. Colonel Andrew Brynner takes the fall and is imprisoned, while Dr. Richard Long, the scientist behind the weapon, is haunted by the incident.

A Decade Later: Revenge and Pursuit

Ten years later, Brynner is released and seeks revenge, aiming to steal ‘Elvis’ and sell it to terrorists. He confronts Long, but the scientist manages to escape with the weapon and entrusts it to Tim Mason, a diner employee and Long’s acquaintance, warning him to keep it below 50°F.

The Unlikely Duo and the Ice Cream Truck

Mason enlists the help of Arlo, an ice cream truck driver, to transport ‘Elvis’ to a secure military base. Pursued by Brynner and his mercenaries, the mismatched duo must navigate treacherous terrain and evade capture while keeping the volatile substance from detonating. Their journey becomes a comedic and action-packed race against time.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Arlo (Cuba Gooding Jr.): A wisecracking ice cream truck driver who reluctantly helps transport a volatile weapon.
• Tim Mason (Skeet Ulrich): A diner clerk who is entrusted with a dangerous chemical weapon and must keep it below 50 degrees.
• Colonel Andrew Brynner (Peter Firth): A disgruntled former military officer seeking revenge by stealing and selling a deadly biological weapon.
• Dr. Richard Long (David Paymer): The scientist who created the unstable chemical weapon ‘Elvis’ and sets the plot in motion.
• Vaughn (Hudson Leick): The icy and deadly henchwoman and member of Colonel Brynner’s terrorist team.
• Colonel Leo Vitelli (Daniel Hugh Kelly): The military officer who helps Arlo and Mason but also has a hidden agenda to cover up the government’s secrets.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Tim Mason: “I need your truck.” – Tim needs Arlo’s truck to transport the dangerous biological weapon.
• Arlo: “How far you got to go?” – Arlo reluctantly asks, after Tim cocks his gun to take the truck

💰Box Office

• Budget: $70,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $11,263,966
• Worldwide Gross: $11,788,676

💥 Chill Factor Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so it’s not winning any awards, but I have a soft spot for this movie. Cuba Gooding Jr. is hilarious, and the whole ‘gotta keep it cold’ premise is just ridiculous enough to be entertaining. It’s a great ‘turn your brain off’ kind of flick. I remember one scene where they used beer to cool the bomb. Also, I found myself rooting for the unlikely duo as they outsmarted the bad guys. It’s a fun, cheesy ride from start to finish.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of 90s action movies”
  • “Viewers who enjoy buddy comedies with mismatched leads”
  • “People looking for undemanding, lighthearted entertainment”
  • “Fans of Cuba Gooding Jr. and Skeet Ulrich”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Intense action violence”
  • “Frequent use of strong language”
  • “Some scenes may be disturbing for sensitive viewers”
  • “Implied threat of government cover-up”

Professional Reviews

• Nerdly: “While the effects are decent, the plot is a tired rehash of other action flicks, and the dialogue is often cringe-worthy. Still, Gooding Jr. and Ulrich have a decent chemistry that makes it watchable. If you’re looking for a brainless action flick to pass the time, this might fit the bill.
• LA Times: “Kevin Thomas from the LA Times promises me on the back ‘A Roller Coaster Loaded with Thrills and Spills’. Kevin Thomas is an awful liar, lemme tell you. Most of it is a dull car chase around what looks like a resort town in Montana.
• Bobafett1138 BlogSpot: “It’s not just its concept that makes this movie bad, it’s just the overall execution of it all as well. For an action movie it simply isn’t a very good one, not in the least because it also borrows heavily from other movies and just isn’t original enough on its own to really add anything.

Audience Reactions

Viewers enjoyed the cheesy, over-the-top action and found it a fun, mindless watch.: Many found the unlikely pairing of Cuba Gooding Jr. and Skeet Ulrich to be surprisingly entertaining and the source of much of the film’s humor.

Overall Consensus: While critics were lukewarm, audience reactions are mixed between the plot, and the overall silliness, but find some value in the action and humor.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The exterior diner scenes were filmed in the small town of Liberty, South Carolina. In real life, the diner is a wood shop and the $15/night hotel is a laundromat.”

🖥️ How to Watch Chill Factor?

Chill Factor is available for rent or purchase on various digital platforms, including Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for cable availability.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Chill Factor, you might like these similar films:

• Speed (1994): The core concept of having to maintain a specific condition to prevent an explosion is very similar.
• Broken Arrow (1996): Features a stolen nuclear weapon and rogue military personnel.
• The Rock (1996): Involves a disgruntled military figure threatening a large population with a chemical weapon.
• Con Air (1997): Similar over-the-top action with a comedic tone and a group of dangerous criminals.

🛒 Chill Factor Related Products

• Chill Factor [Blu-ray]: Experience Chill Factor in high definition. Special features include deleted scenes, director’s commentary, and behind-the-scenes footage.
• Polarbox Portable Cooler: Vintage Design Cooler – High Performance Portable Cooler – Lightweight Thermic Insulating – Cold/Heat – Ideal for picnic, travel, camping – Capacity: 13 Quart – Sky Blue
• The Rock (Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]: Director Michael Bay’s actioner starring Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage, and Ed Harris follows the action in Alcatraz
• Speed [Blu-ray]: Director Jan de Bont’s actioner starring Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper, and Sandra Bullock follows the action when a bus must drive over 50mph to keep from exploding

🎧 Soundtrack

Chill Factor features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Fly Like an Eagle” – performed by Seal
• “When I Get Home” – performed by The Isley Brothers

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Kermode Uncut: Chill Factor

Curious what a top film critic thinks of ‘Chill Factor’? Mark Kermode gives his take in this short review – he’s got a point about the slightly absurd premise, but does he ultimately recommend it? Find out here!

✨ Rate