Excellent but underrated film

A Masterpiece!

It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Unfunny comedy about a college student (John Cusack with Gabriela Sabatini's 80s hair) trying to find his rich girlfriend and her family so he can join them on their Caribbean vacation. Wacky hijinks ensue....light on the wacky. I really like John Cusack, especially his early stuff, but this just stinks. It's not funny at all. I had to double check IMDb in the middle of it to make sure it was supposed to be a comedy because there were so few laughs or even attempts at laughs. Cusack tries his best but the material is so weak he can do nothing with it. So he resorts to things like yelling all of his lines as if that makes them funnier. Well, he was with Robert Loggia in many scenes and that's kind of his thing so maybe that explains that. The supporting cast doesn't help much. Ham is the order of the day. In addition to Loggia, there's Monte Markham, Keith David, and Jerry Stiller all trying too hard. Ben Stiller appears here with his dad in one of his earliest roles. He's pretty bad, too. Always nice to see Shelley Fabares, even in a worthless part. The best part of the movie is Wendy Gazelle's beautiful smile. We don't get to see nearly enough of that, though. It's a very weak movie that has so few laughs it tries to become an action flick near the end. At one point it appears Cusack has murdered some bad guys, which might have at least given the movie some value as a curiosity, but no they live. It's watchable enough if you're not expecting it to be funny. Everybody who wants to laugh should avoid it.

Another in a never ending stream of movies about teens where the actors are not really teens. I think Cusack was around 21 in this one. Another reviewer said that he always plays an average guy. That's true, but how many average guys are super tall? That always struck me as the weird thing about his "everyman" persona.This is also another movie where high school kids are already well into their sexual boyfriend/girlfriend relationship as if they are adults. They talk about making love under the stars as if they can just do that with full permission from the adults involved.Having said all that, it's mildly enjoyable. You root for Cusack and sort of envy his Spring Break adventure. Ben Stiller looks great. He actually plays a good looking player rather than the pathetic dork he plays as an adult.Robert Loggia is great. He kind of makes the film. He plays his usual gruff renegade, but he does it with memorable panache.The plot is a bit too complex and you find yourself wanting it to end long before it actually does.I like it for the eerie 80s synth soundtrack and the idea of a young guy having an attractive girlfriend and a Caribbean adventure. But unless you like Cusack and Stiller, stay away. It's too convoluted.

This is my favorite John Cusak movie of all time. Although he has been in many more ambitious projects and tried a multitude of roles, Hot Pursuit places him pat where he plays best, the hapless but spirited underdog whose love for anupper-class girlfriend forces him to undergo a "trial by fire" where he finally discovers what he's made of. (Okay, upon reflection that could be a summary for half his movies. Still I say this was better than "The Sure Thing" or "Say Anything".) It is unpretentious, the dialogue is by now ways "Mammat" in sophistication, but it delivers its point and gives the audience an enjoyable journey in themeantime.

The consensus opinion on Hot Pursuit seems to be that the first half is superior to the second half. While I enjoyed this film a lot, I can't argue with the opinion. The tone changes in the middle, and the second half is just not as much fun, though I would still recommend the film as a whole.John Cusack's character is the focus of this film, and he does his part in carrying the load. His character is preparing for a dream, tropical vacation with his girlfriend and her family, but he learns that he must stay at school after failing an exam. His professor lets him off easy, and he races after his girlfriend, but he misses his flight by a hair. From there, he proceeds to spend the film trying to catch up with the girlfriend and family, trailing just behind as he enlists "local color" to help in his quest.In the film's second half, the chase grows darker and more serious, and that's where some may find the film not as rewarding. A lot of the 80s era "chase" cliches find their way into Hot Pursuit at this point. The film does eventually recapture its earlier tone, however, and I found the end quite satisfying.Hot Pursuit provided some noteworthy supporting performances as well. Robert Loggia was solid as a crusty old seaman with whom Cusack spends time in the course of his misadventures. Also look for Ben Stiller (with father Jerry) in his first film role. 7/10