CHIPS
By S. Jhoanna Robledo,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Some laughs, but more iffy stuff in TV-based action comedy.

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CHIPS
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Based on 8 parent reviews
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It’s ok for 12+
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What's the Story?
Based on the hit 1970s/1980s TV show of the same name, the big-screen version of CHIPS stars Dax Shepard as rookie highway patrol officer Jon Baker, a veteran of the X Games who's amazing on a motorcycle but hapless at pretty much everything else (including his marriage to his estranged wife, Karen -- played by Shepard's real-life wife, Kristen Bell). Somehow, though, he gets through the Police Academy and is partnered with an FBI agent who's undercover as CHP officer Frank "Ponch" Poncherello (Michael Peña), who's trying to round up dirty cops involved in a robbery and murder ring. Will the unlikely duo stop the bad guys and save the day?
Is It Any Good?
There isn't much about this action comedy that's inventive or original; the plot is so thin that it's barely visible. But, on a certain level, it works -- largely thanks to the great chemistry between Shepard and Pena, who manage to make even the cheesiest, silliest of their dialog sound somewhat funny. They're just fun to watch on the screen. Plus, the stunts do a lot to amp up the storytelling, and the jokes, while sometimes so tired they're fatigued, coax laughs out of the audience. You could say that CHIPS has charm, though how in the heck that happened is hard to tell.
One way the film could have easily been better? Doing away with the female objectification and the jokes based on stereotypes. Though this version of CHIPS is supposed to be modern in matters of how women are portrayed or seen, it's ultimately annoyingly retro. And then there's the script, which starts off with characters who have surprisingly rich back stories and ends up barely existing as a structural foundation. Maybe binge the original instead.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in CHIPS. Is any of it funny? Why or why not? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
Jon is shown downing medications of all types and stripes all the time. Does the movie minimize the problem of addiction?
How is sex portrayed in the movie? Is it loving? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
How does the film compare to the original TV show? Which do you like better, and why? In general, do you like movies based on old shows? Why or why not?
Are any of the characters role models? Why or why not?
Movie Details
- In theaters: March 24, 2017
- On DVD or streaming: June 27, 2017
- Cast: Michael Pena, Dax Shepard, Adam Brody
- Director: Dax Shepard
- Inclusion Information: Latinx actors
- Studio: Warner Bros.
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Topics: Friendship
- Run time: 100 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: crude sexual content, graphic nudity, pervasive language, some violence and drug use
- Last updated: April 1, 2023
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