Cusack’s Caribbean Chase: a Retro Romp

Read Time:4 Minute, 42 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Hot Pursuit (Blu-ray)
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Genre: Comedy
Year Released: 1987, Kino Lorber Blu-ray 2025
Runtime: 1h 33m
Director(s): Steven Lisberger
Writer(s): Steven Lisberger, Steven W. Carabatsos, Tom Mankiewicz
Cast: John Cusack, Robert Loggia, Jerry Stiller, Ben Stiller, Monte Markham, Wendy Gazelle, Shelley Fabares, Keith David, Paul Bates, Dah-ve Chodan
Where To Watch: available now, order here: www.kinolorber.com or www.amazon.com

RAVING REVIEW: The 1980s had a distinct way of blending adventure and comedy, and this film leans heavily into that era’s playful, slightly exaggerated tone. The story follows a college student who, through bad luck and last-minute desperation, finds himself chasing his girlfriend and her family across the literal ocean. What starts as a hopeful getaway quickly spirals into a chaotic journey filled with obstacles, shady characters, and unpredictable turns. While the film offers a breezy, easygoing experience, it also wrestles with maintaining a balance between its comedic and action-driven moments, making for an uneven but occasionally entertaining ride. Just when I thought I knew every John Cusack film, boom!

The film centers around a young man who thinks he’s in for a simple vacation, only to be caught up in escalating mishaps. What begins as an attempt to reunite with his girlfriend soon morphs into a string of close calls, strange alliances, and an increasing sense that the stakes are far higher than he ever expected. This structure keeps things moving steadily in the first half, though the film takes a sharp turn later on, shifting into action-heavy territory that doesn’t blend with the earlier comedic tone.

Cusack is at the heart of it all, whose knack for playing the exasperated everyman is in full effect. His ability to juggle frustration, determination, and moments of sheer disbelief helps to keep things engaging, even when the story takes detours that don’t always add much to the larger narrative. His character’s arc—going from an overwhelmed student to someone who learns to take control of his situation—provides enough depth to make him more than just a passive participant in the story. While some of his interactions with side characters are memorable, others feel more like filler, included to stretch out the journey rather than truly develop his character.

The supporting cast adds mixed results. Robert Loggia delivers a standout performance as a grizzled sailor who becomes an unlikely ally, injecting some grit and unpredictability into the film. Wendy Gazelle, playing the love interest, has less to work with, mainly serving as the reason for the protagonist’s journey rather than a fully developed character in her own right. Meanwhile, adding Jerry and Ben Stiller as antagonistic figures brings some comedic energy. However, their roles remain relatively one-note, relying more on their presence than strong writing to make them interesting.

One of the film’s biggest challenges is its pacing. The elements work well in the early portion, where the protagonist’s bad luck and increasingly absurd setbacks create a lighthearted tone. But as the film leans more into action, particularly in the later acts, the shift feels abrupt. The transition from misadventures to full-blown danger is jarring, making it difficult to determine whether the film wants to be an outright comedy or something with higher stakes. This inconsistency makes some sequences feel forced rather than naturally escalating from what came before.

While entertaining in spots, the writing leans on familiar beats from other era comedies. Some jokes land, especially those that play off Cusack’s exasperation, but others feel predictable, relying on slapstick and miscommunication rather than dialogue. While this kind of storytelling was common at the time, it doesn’t always hold up as well now, particularly when compared to other films that managed to execute the adventure-comedy blend with more finesse.

The film successfully creates a certain nostalgic charm. It embraces the energy of its period, with a performance from its lead and enough absurd situations to keep things engaging. It may not reach the heights of some of the era’s most beloved comedies, but it offers enough personality to make it worth revisiting for fans of its style.

For those looking for a lighthearted yet crazy adventure with a mix of humor and action, this film delivers just enough to entertain, even if it doesn’t always fully commit to one tone. It’s an amusing, occasionally uneven ride through a classic 1980s adventure setup.

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[photo courtesy of KINO LORBER]

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