The Last Ride (2004)
Starring: Dennis Hopper, Will Patton, Chris Carmack, Nadine Velazquez, Fred Ward, Gay Storm, Peter Onorati, David Douglas, Jesse Rodriguez, Conner Betten, Deena Dill, Peter Talieri, Clayton Blocker, Crystal M. Dyson, Kimberly Stamphill, Gwendolyn Oliver, Ben DiGregorio
Director: Guy Norman Bee
Running Time: 81 minutes
US MPAA rating: N/AUK BBFC rating: 12
Action, Drama, Thriller
On DVD The year is 1970. With his wife bleeding to death in the back of his 1969 Pontiac GTO, armed robber Ronnie Purnell realises he has had his last ride and, with his young son Aaron looking on, gives himself up to sheriff Darryl Kurtz at the Mexican border. Cut to thirty years later, and it seems that Ronnie's outlaw ways have skipped a generation. Aaron (Will Patton) has been brought up by Kurtz (Fred Ward) and become a tight-assed, straight-as-an-arrow cop, while Aaron's son Matt (Chris Carmack) is an eighteen-year old street-racer driving way too fast on a path to criminality, much to the annoyance of his girlfriend-cum-mechanic J.J. (Nadine Velazquez). So when grandpa Ronnie (Dennis Hopper), fresh out of prison, sets off to retrieve his vintage wheels and settle a few scores, Matt readily offers his help - even if that means outmotoring the entire San Diego Police Department and a determined killer-for-hire. In the end, though, only Kurtz (who is far less law-abiding than he seems) can be in the passenger seat when Ronnie takes his one last ride.
While blood may prove thicker than water for the Purnells' three generations, what really fills their veins is petrol in this below-par blend of 'Bonnie and Clyde' and
DVD Extras: Extras: Scene selection, optional subtitles for the hearing impaired, and not another thing.
It's Got: A character near the beginning describing a robbery in terms that come close to summarising the whole cash-in rationale behind the film ("Zero risk, 15 minutes, in and out, 25-30 Gs"); Chris ('The O.C.') Carmack looking like Caper van Dien, and complaining that his beautiful girlfriend is "constantly riding me"; Will Patton looking more and more like George Bush Jr; and Dennis Hopper shuffling through his rôle like someone who has done too many drugs back in the day, and at one point saying "I'm sorry. I - I mean, I've missed so much. My mind sometimes...", and then staring off into the distance as though he never quite left the set of 'Apocalypse Now' (where he also hung out with a character named Kurtz). http://www.chkbnr.com/b.
It Needs: Better writing, better characterisation, better stuntwork.
Alternatives: The Fast and the Furious, 2 Fast 2 Furious, Torque, 'Running on Empty', 'Easy Rider', 'Bonnie and Clyde', 'The Getaway'
Summary: Below average motorhead movie that left its heart at the end of the sixties.
Review Date: 28th October 2004
Image Gallery
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External Links
Official Web Site
The Last Ride at the IMDB
Comments7 Comments |
| Well, I for one think it deserves better than 4/10 for after all, it is a made for TV movie! And Hopper adds a sort of "gravitas" that takes the film to another level (Kinda like Cheney with Bush, to follow your analogies). I'd give it a 6 or 7 out of 10, because its so great to see Dennis Hopper back in the saddle again, even if he is old! |
| Comment by:- | | 07 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| Well, It doesn't surprise me you Hollywood like-minded idiots couldn't pass up any chance to bash "W", while undercutting a great TV/Movie. If I may ask what's your ideal motorhead movie? Michael Moore racing around LA in a Ford Escort selling socialist propaganda in exchange for twinkies! |
| Comment by:- | | 17 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| I think that Paul Walker should have been in the last ride because he is a great actor and belongs in every fast and furious film! p.s. i am his biggest fan ever and love both fast and furious films that i went out and got them on d.v.d!!!!!!!! |
| Comment by:- | | 18 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| the last ride is crap because paul walker is not in it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
| Comment by:- | | 18 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| lol @ ppl in denial who get all snooty when you poke fun at their king ostrich. fair dinkum get over it - some people in the world think bush and co are corrupt to the core and have ppl like you wrapped around their fingertips |
| Comment by:- | | 20 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| kvo stava |
| Comment by:- | | 29 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| Australia hasnt got dis movie yet .. but one of my mates said it was worth look into .. i doubt it their so full of crap.. just reading the story line sends me off to sleep ... the movies budget should of been saved for the making fast and furious 3 if there is ever 2 be a next 1 (pllz god pllzzz)... and they got gto holden in the movie to now i dunt wanna start on y they would make a movie with the gto in it *shakes head to aussie car* shame full... any who dats my spill |
| Comment by:- | | 18 January 2005 | ip: logged |
