Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Lackluster action flick has too many smashed cars to count.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Getaway
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 10 parent reviews
Based on 16 kid reviews
Kids say that the movie features energetic performances, particularly from Selena Gomez, but many found the plot lacking and heavy on violence and profanity. Some viewers appreciated the action elements, while others criticized it for being tedious and chaotic, with a significant number deeming it unsuitable for younger audiences.
- performance praise
- violence critique
- plot issues
- language concerns
- repetitive action
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Brent Magna (Ethan Hawke) is a former race car driver whose skills are put to the test when his wife is kidnapped and the villain orders him to get behind the wheel of a powerful sports car and follow all instructions to the letter. The unseen kidnapper (Jon Voight) has placed cameras in the vehicle -- he can see everything Hawke does and makes sure everything follows his mysterious plan. Not even the help of an initially unwilling passenger (Selena Gomez) will disrupt this carefully choreographed night of automotive destruction, filmed on location in Sofia, Bulgaria
Is It Any Good?
To start, Speed did a better job making a movie about a vehicular hostage situation than GETAWAY does. It starts with a car chase, it ends with a car chase, and there's very little in between except more car chases. And car crashes. (Okay, there are also motorcycles.) It's about 90 minutes of action sequences, barely held together with a plot; don't think too hard about it, because the story doesn't hold up to even the most cursory examination. (A city downed by a power outage suddenly appears to have power, and just how much damage can that car take?) We learn almost nothing about the characters except that Brent loves his wife and wants her back. And that he's a former race car driver (with a shady past, though we don't know what that means) and is still a good driver. But that's not enough of a reason to root for him to drive his way out of trouble.
Speaking of driving -- the action sequences start out pretty gripping, but there are only so many ways to destroy a car, and we eventually see them all, usually more than once. So it doesn't take too long before they get boring. The movie ends on a note that suggests a sequel may be in the offing, but at this rate, there may not be enough gas to power that drive.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the kind of action violence shown in Getaway. What kind of impact does it have compared to what you might see in a horror movie? Is any of it meant to be realistic?
What audience do you think Getaway is intended to appeal to? How can you tell?
How far is Brent willing to go to save his wife? Where does he draw the line? What would you do? Is he a sympathetic character despite the choices he makes/actions he takes? Why or why not?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 30, 2013
- On DVD or streaming : November 26, 2013
- Cast : Ethan Hawke , Jon Voight , Selena Gomez
- Director : Courtney Solomon
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Warner Bros.
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Transportation ( Cars & Trucks )
- Run time : 90 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : intense action, violence and mayhem throughout, some rude gestures, and language
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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