Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, May 21, 1994 TAG: 9405230136
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: B-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Essentially, it's an updated service comedy with a South Carolina beach setting. The story's too slight and silly to be at all involving, but a capable cast makes it something of a guilty pleasure.
Eddie Devane (William McNamara) is that time-honored military stereotype, the hustler in the supply depot. On the last day of his enlistment in the Navy, he has arranged a big score that's going to give him enough cold cash to buy a brand new Porsche convertible.
His plans go awry when he's ordered to fill in on ``chaser'' duty, escorting a prisoner from Camp Lejeune to the brig at Charleston. On that assignment, he's teamed with another military stereotype, the gruff no-nonsense career NCO, Chief Petty Officer Rock Reilly (Tom Berenger).
Of course, it's hate at first sight for those two. When their prisoner turns out to be Seaman 2nd Class Toni Johnson (Erika Eleniak), a true babe and not the hardened criminal they'd expected, their relationship is further strained. Then she begins a series of escape attempts.
The jokes are generally lame in the script by Joe Batteer, John Rice and Dan Gilroy. Director Dennis Hopper does his usual journeyman work. His evocation of that wonderfully tacky South Carolina beach milieu is first-rate. (All that's lacking is a stop at South of the Border.) He also got a handful of good character actors - including Crispin Glover, Gary Busey, Frederick Forrest, Marilu Henner, Seymour Cassell and Dean Stockwell - to show up in supporting roles.
Anyone who's ever seen a buddy picture will know exactly what's going to happen in this one, but so what? The characters are likeable; Erika Eleniak is easy on the eyes; service comedies are fun.
``Chasers'' is a perfectly acceptable time-waster.
Chasers ** 1/2
A Warner Bros. release playing at the Terrace Theatre. 80 min. Rated R for strong language, brief nudity, sexual content, some violence.
by CNB