`Chill Factor' – Lukewarm Entertainment by Homer Yen (c) 1999
The summer season for movies is fast approaching an end. As I think back about the summer offerings, there has been a dearth of the standard shoot-em and chase-em movies compared to last year. There were a fair share of comedies, a handful of mature dramas, and a stunning showing for scary films. But where were the standard staples of summer? The prototypical action flick was probably rarer this year because studios finally figured out that audiences are craving for movies that titillate the senses or tickle the funny bone. Gratefully, the standard shoot-em up fare is moving towards extinction. Perhaps these films will find their future as straight-to-video releases. Although `Chill Factor' is probably as competent as any other summery action film, this is also a film that you'll probably see at your neighborhood Blockbuster's within eight weeks.
In this film, the U.S. government has been secretly testing a chemical weapon that can evaporate human flesh within a matter of seconds. The problem is that scientists have been unable to control the energy of this chemical reaction. The only thing that they do know is that the chemical (which looks like blue, semi-gelatinous crystals) must be kept cold, less than 50 degrees. Otherwise, the chemical reaction would start. There's nothing as cleansing as a radioactive facial. If an enemy nation were able to get their hands on it, they could easily wage a destructive war guaranteeing themselves that their enemies will all dissolve into dust. There's an overly elaborate set-up to introduce us to the person that wants to steal and auction it off to the highest bidder (in this case, a vindictive former Army officer). With his band of hired mercenaries, they infiltrate a top secret research facility to make the theft.
The bandits are unsuccessful, and the chemicals wind up in the hands of two average citizens. One is Tom (Skeet Ulrich), a brooding guy who is overcome by a sudden wave of patriotism. He must deliver the chemicals to an Army base about a day's trip away. But he must keep the chemicals cold. Luckily, he meets up with Arlo (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) who just happens to be an ice cream truck driver. Arlo has nothing better to do with his life, and despite the fact that transporting the chemicals means almost-certain death, he grudgingly decides to help Tom.
What does sustain the film is Gooding's fun nature. There's a certain charm that he has when he yelps his dissatisfaction at their deteriorating situation. Another ongoing joke seems to be that Tom and Arlo can only flee using very unlikely getaway vehicles, including a beat-up ice cream truck and a UPS brown van. But with the villain hot on their trail, Tom and Arlo face a series of challenges in order to stay alive. Driving along a narrow ledge high atop a mountainside and tobogganing down the side of a mountain are just some of their wild getaways. And though they face such overwhelming odds at surviving, they still manage to buy ice along the way to keep the chemical cool. The movie is predictable and formulaic from beginning to end. It has its light moments (thanks to Gooding) and a relatively brisk pace, but beyond that, this film is about as exciting as the Vanilla in Arlo's ice cream truck.
Grade: C
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