Hot Pursuit - C-

Sofia Vergara and Reese Witherspoon

Rated PG-13, 87 minutes
Wes's Grade: C-

Mildly amusing "Hot Pursuit" a tepid, well-worn female buddy comedy

"Hot Pursuit" is a middling, mildly amusing female buddy comedy that barely gets by because of its appealing leads, who seem to be having a good time. An uptight and by-the-book cop (Reese Witherspoon) tries to protect the sexy and outgoing widow (Sofia Vergara) of a drug boss as they race through Texas, pursued by crooked cops and murderous gunmen. Directed by "Step Up's" Anne Fletcher, "Hot Pursuit" is a disposable, well-worn comedy lacking passion last appeared in much better form in the Bullock-McCarthy 2013 comedy "The Heat." Unsurprisingly, it plays to annoying stereotypes (policewomen, drugs and Mexicans all take the hit here) and predictable plot twists, and despite the fact the leads try to make it work, much of it falls flat under a weak script. Both actresses have done much better before, though this TV-esque, odd-couple premise seems more of a fit for the lovely Vergara, who became a big star with her unsubtle Latina sexpot act, which works fine in a supporting part in a hit TV show like "Modern Family" but is stretched to thinly annoying levels in a 90 minute movie (this is another variation of that character, amped up about 20 times) while Witherspoon seems uncomfortable in all-out comedy mode, especially after the heavy drama "Wild" last year, not to mention her character is so gratingly uptight you have little sympathy for her. A misfire for sure, "Hot Pursuit" does have a few genuinely funny more toned-down moments, including one in a deer costume with two immensely charming leads who try to make it work, but it lacks the zany passion to make it truly memorable. Instead, these two annoying characters traipse across Texas in a rather tepid tale, though if you make it until the credits, you'll see the funniest part of the movie: the blooper reel, which feels so "Smokey and the Bandit." Considering the talent involved, who'll likely sell a few tickets its first weekend, "Hot Pursuit" is a lukewarm comedic disappointment.