The Chase Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A wrongly accused man kidnaps a rich girl with a candy bar and they fall in love while evading police in a chase that’s basically an extended music video.

🍿 The Chase: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Escape and Kidnapping

Jack Hammond, wrongly convicted, escapes from custody. At a convenience store, he’s startled by a police radio report and impulsively takes Natalie Voss hostage, using a candy bar as a fake weapon. They flee in Natalie’s red BMW, setting off a high-speed chase.

The Chase Begins

The police pursue Jack and Natalie, and the chase quickly escalates, attracting media attention. A news helicopter and police cars document their every move. The chase becomes increasingly chaotic, with accidents and unexpected obstacles along the way, including a medical truck spilling corpses onto the highway.

Developing Relationship

During the chase, Jack and Natalie begin to connect. Natalie learns about Jack’s unjust conviction and starts to sympathize with him. They share personal stories and challenge each other’s perspectives, leading to a romantic attraction amidst the chaos.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Jack Hammond (Charlie Sheen): An escaped convict wrongly convicted of armed robbery who kidnaps Natalie Voss in a desperate attempt to evade the police and reach Mexico.
• Natalie Voss (Kristy Swanson): The spoiled but spirited daughter of a billionaire who is kidnapped by Jack Hammond and gradually falls in love with him.
• Officer Dobbs (Henry Rollins): A zealous and fame-hungry police officer relentlessly pursuing Jack and Natalie, seeking media attention.
• Dalton Voss (Ray Wise): A ruthless and wealthy industrialist and politician who is primarily concerned with his public image and the safety of his daughter, Natalie.
• Ari Josephson (Marshall Bell): Jack Hammond’s attorney who tries to convince him to surrender and trust the legal system.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Natalie Voss: “You kidnapped me with a candy bar?” – Natalie expresses disbelief after realizing Jack’s ‘weapon’ was just a candy bar.
• Jackson Davis Hammond: “Fifteen thousand dollars? That’s all your daughter’s worth to you? You’re a billionaire, that’s pathetic.” – Jack sarcastically responds to Dalton Voss’s initial low ransom offer for Natalie.
• Jackson Davis Hammond: “I mean we wouldn’t want your viewers to change the fucking channel, would we?” – Jack criticizes the media’s exploitation of their situation for entertainment.
• Jackson Davis Hammond: “There’s a difference in being violent and being driven to violence. I am not a violent man. I was convicted of a crime I did not commit. The system does not believe me.” – Jack tries to explain that he is a victim of the system and has not wanted to hurt anybody.
• Clown (Charlie Sheen): “I love the smell of napalm in the morning.” – A post-credits scene features Charlie Sheen in a clown suit delivering the famous line from ‘Apocalypse Now’, a nod to his father Martin Sheen’s role in that film.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $15,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $7,924,955
• Worldwide Gross: $7,924,955

💥 The Chase Reviews

Personal Review

I remember watching ‘The Chase’ back in the day and loving the sheer absurdity of it all. Charlie Sheen, at his most Charlie Sheen-ish, Kirsty Swanson being incredibly hot, Henry Rollins being a great cop. I thought it was a movie that didn’t take itself too seriously and just wanted to entertain. The chase scenes are fun, and the soundtrack is full of those 90s alternative rock bands I loved. It’s a fun, simple movie.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of Charlie Sheen”
  • “Viewers who enjoy 90s action comedies”
  • “Those interested in media satire”
  • “People looking for a light-hearted action movie”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Violence”
  • “Strong language”
  • “Suggestive content”
  • “Brief nudity”

Professional Reviews

• Variety: “While ‘The Chase’ attempts to satirize media sensationalism, it mostly offers a series of loud car crashes and predictable character arcs. Sheen and Swanson have some chemistry, but the script lacks the wit to truly elevate the film beyond a B-movie action romp.
• Los Angeles Times: “The Chase is a decent rental for a night. However, it is rather predictable. The chase scene is rather fun and entertaining, but the lack of dialogue hampers the impact.

Audience Reactions

The fast-paced action and comedic elements made it a fun and rewatchable film.: Most viewers appreciated the film’s attempt at media satire and the performances of Charlie Sheen and Kristy Swanson, despite its flaws.

Overall Consensus: A lighthearted action-comedy that’s entertaining if you don’t take it too seriously. Appreciated for its satire and cast, but criticized for its predictability and shallow plot.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Adam Rifkin, the writer and director, makes a cameo appearance as a writer.”
• “The film features several members of popular rock bands, including Henry Rollins, and Flea and Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.”
• “The film satirizes the media’s sensationalism, drawing parallels to the O.J. Simpson chase that occurred shortly after its release.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Chase?

Currently, “The Chase” (1994) is available for purchase or rental on platforms such as Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, and Google Play Movies. Availability may vary by region. Check your local listings for streaming options.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Chase, you might like these similar films:

• Speed (1994): Shares the high-octane action and suspense of a vehicle-based thriller, though ‘Speed’ focuses on a bus instead of a car chase.
• Natural Born Killers (1994): Another 90’s film that satirizes media sensationalism of crime, though far more dark and violent.
• Smokey and the Bandit (1977): Classic car chase comedy with a lighthearted tone.
• Baby Driver (2017): Modern, stylish action-comedy with impressive driving sequences and a focus on outsmarting law enforcement.
• Vanishing Point (1971): Cult classic car chase movie that emphasizes the open road and outrunning the law.

🛒 The Chase Related Products

• BMW E36 Model Car – 1:18 Scale: High-quality diecast model of the BMW E36, similar to the one driven in ‘The Chase’. It features detailed interior and exterior, perfect for display.
• The Chase (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack): Relive the high-octane energy of the film with the official soundtrack, featuring artists like One Dove, Suede, and more. Available for digital download.
• Police Car Building Block Set: Build your own police car with this building block set. Includes detailed instructions and realistic features.
• ‘I love the smell of napalm in the morning’ T-Shirt: Referencing Charlie Sheen’s nod to ‘Apocalypse Now’ at the end of the movie

🎧 Soundtrack

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

• “Breakdown” – performed by One Dove
• “Next Life” – performed by Suede

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

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

How I imagine videographers film a chase scene.

Ever wondered how those crazy chase scenes are filmed? This hilarious video gives you a peek (and a laugh!) behind the camera. You won’t believe how they actually do it!

The Chase: Agents vs Morpheus | The Matrix Reloaded [Open Matte]

Remember that insane chase scene in The Matrix Reloaded? Check out this video that shows the entire scene, and it really highlights what made the movie so unique.

Giorgio Moroder – Chase (live by Kebu @ Sthlm Italo Disco Party 2015)

Love the music from suspenseful movies? This live synth cover of Giorgio Moroder’s ‘Chase’ is epic! It’s a cool, modern take on a classic that you have to hear.

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