Hit & Run

Many off-screen couples fail to generate any heat on camera, but there's a genuine chemistry between real-life twosome Shepard and Bell that makes the romantic parts of the film work. The opening scene in bed seems improvisational and authentic, as if it's exactly the kind of conversation the actors would have while cuddling in the morning. As writer and co-director, Shepard clearly has an eye for how to make his beloved shine; even when other aspects of the movie falter a bit, Bell is always charming and adorable as the goody-two-shoes half of the relationship.

As for the action-comedy half of HIT & RUN, it's like an old-school car-chase caper, complete with a likeable supporting cast (Cooper looks hilarious as a dreadlocked surfer-criminal, and Tom Arnold is surprisingly winning as a bumbling U.S. Marshal assigned to protect Charlie) and several pulse-quickening chase sequences. What's surprising is that despite the occasional raunch and violence, the movie is really about the intimacy and honesty required in a long-term romance. The rape and race jokes will be a dealbreaker for some, but if you're not easily offended, this could be a guilty pleasure pick.