Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Real-life couple has chemistry in raunchy car-chase flick.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 18+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Hit & Run
What's the Story?
Annie (Kristen Bell) is a small-town California professor who's offered the opportunity of her career if she agrees to move to Los Angeles. Unfortunately for Annie, her boyfriend, Charlie (Dax Shepard), is under witness protection; but he agrees to risk his life by visiting the city where the crime he witnessed was committed. Annie's ex-boyfriend, Gil (Michael Rosenbaum), finds out that Charlie was actually a getaway driver and contacts Alex Dimitri (Bradley Cooper), the bank robber Charlie betrayed. With Alex and Gil on his trail, Charlie rushes to evade his pursuers and get Annie to her interview -- even if it means telling her the whole truth about his past.
Is It Any Good?
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.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Hit & Run's blend of romance and action. What resonated with you more -- the romantic comedy between Annie and Charlie, or the action comedy with the car chases and criminal involvement?
Why do you think the filmmakers chose to include full-frontal nudity here? Why do so many R-rated comedies have nonsexual nudity? Would they be better without it?
Are the characters' comments about date rape and prison rape meant to be comical? If so, is that OK? What about Charlie's discussion of different kinds of men and their stereotypes? Is that funny or offensive? Why?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 22, 2012
- On DVD or streaming : January 8, 2013
- Cast : Bradley Cooper , Dax Shepard , Kristen Bell
- Directors : David Palmer , Dax Shepard
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Open Road Films
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Transportation ( Cars & Trucks )
- Run time : 100 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : pervasive language including sexual references, graphic nudity, some violence and drug content
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate