Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 2, 1991 TAG: 9102020411
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
It begins well with some humor and bright shallow characters. Then about half way through, it settles into the familiar grooves of the formula and stays there.
Charlie Farrow (Patrick Dempsey) is a law student and part-time mechanic with a taste for poker. One weekend, his boss at a Boston garage gives him $200 and a shiny red Porsche that has to be delivered to Atlantic City.
Engine trouble forces him off the road in Sawtucket, New Jersey. A friendly cabbie mistakes Charlie for a high roller and gets him into an illegal casino where he runs afoul of the local crime lord, Halloran (Ken Pogue). As the sun sets, Charlie finds himself alone and hunted in this rustbelt town with both the hoods and the corrupt police on his trail. His only ally (maybe) is a card dealer, Karen (Kelly Preston).
Australian director Geoff Burrowes stages the action as a series of set pieces: the escape from the bowling alley, the trap in the mall, the chase in the amusement park, the shoot-out at the dog track, etc. He and director of photography Bruce Surtees give the picture a grainy texture that fits the story. Overall, the pace is quick, the stunts are fairly inventive and the violence never becomes too graphic. The big finish contains some unintentional humor, but that's not a fatal flaw.
The script by Dennis Shryack and Michael Blodgett tries to give the protagonists some depth and individuality, but involving characterizations aren't really the point in this kind of movie. Dempsey and Preston do as well as anyone could. Both of them have proven that they can handle better material, but they don't let that show.
Even if "Run" isn't going to make anyone forget "Die Hard," it's still an engaging cold-weather diversion. `Run': 1/2 A Hollywood Pictures release playing at the Salem Valley 8 (389-0444) and Valley View 6 (362-8219). 90 min. Rated R for violence and strong language.
by CNB