Hot Pursuit

Who is it that decided stupid, juvenile comedy is only appropriate for school boys, and the rest of us, especially women, should be above it?

That's just bananas.

"Hot Pursuit" may have been universally panned by the critics, but the naysayers are missing out on truly brilliant, brain-dead fun.

Reese Witherspoon plays Rose Cooper, an intensely law-abiding (and low ranking) officer of the San Antonio Police Department who is tasked with the job of escorting Daniella Riva (Sofia Vergara), the wife of a cartel informant.

This routine responsibility is a big opportunity for the underappreciated Cooper, which makes it all the worse when the whole affair goes horribly wrong. Riva's husband is killed and two groups of assailants send the junior officer and her charge on the run. Because one of people pursuing the dopey duo is a corrupt cop, the ineptly procedural Cooper must look for alternate means to fulfill her duty.

Vergara may not understand what she is saying half the time. (This is certainly the impression given from the extras. We watch the actress desperately trying to pronounce phrases that she doesn't seem to understand, in "Hot Pursuit: Say What?") But none of that shows in the final product. The Columbian-born comedian, one could go so far to say, is evocative of the great Lucille Ball, bringing all the perfect timing she incorporates in her hit sitcom "Modern Family."

Reese Witherspoon's name carries more than a little cache, with critical acclaim for her strait roles and an Academy Award for her part in the historical drama "Walk the Line." But this is also the actress that brought us "Legally Blond." In this film, she brings all that crazy character work to a less sexist role. Her obsessive-compulsive dedication to the rules is reminiscent of her role in Alexander Payne's "Election."

The special features are edited like music videos. They each show us a series of behind-the-scenes clips, revolving around a common theme and clumped together with music driving them forward. They're like something you'd see in a gag reel, which this Blu-ray also contains as well as an alternate ending.

It's important and empowering that women have the right to be dumb-asses. And this film gives a couple of talented actresses that opportunity.

"Hot Pursuit"
Blu-ray Combo Pack
Rated PG-13 | 87 minutes
www.warnervideo.com