Quartile rating: 5.5/10 · 1 rating
Straight-arrow policewoman Cooper is excited and thrilled about her next assignment. Her task is to escort Daniella Riva, a wisecracking Colombian beauty, from San Antonio to Dallas so both she and her husband can testify against a drug lord. Plans go awry when Mr. Riva gets ambushed, leaving Daniella a widow. Cooper and her witness must now use their wits to escape from crooked cops and murderous gunmen, while not killing each other in the process.
Hot Pursuit is a formulaic buddy-cop comedy that offers little beyond its two leads (Reese Witherspoon and Sofía Vergara). The plot is a recycled on-the-run premise with predictable twists and corrupt-cop reveals. Acting is serviceable but neither star is given material worthy of their talents, relying heavily on physical comedy and stereotype contrast. Cinematography is functional at best — generic Texas locations shot without distinction. Novelty is low: the mismatched-duo road-comedy genre is well-trodden, and this entry adds nothing fresh to the formula. The ending resolves everything neatly but without surprise or satisfaction. Across the board, a competently made but unremarkable film that sits squarely below average.