Stretch

Directed by Joe Carnahan, Stretch follows struggling limo driver Kevin Brzyzowski (Patrick Wilson) as he attempts to make enough money to cover a gambling debt over the course of one very long (and very eventful) night. Filmmaker Carnahan, armed with his own screenplay, delivers a gleefully larger-than-life endeavor that fares best in its briskly-paced and entirely ingratiating first half, as the movie benefits from its emphasis on over-the-top set pieces and quirky, engaging performances – with, in terms of the latter, Wilson’s compelling, committed turn as the relatively down-to-earth protagonist matched by a thoroughly eclectic roster of periphery players. (Ed Helms, James Badge Dale, and Jason Mantzoukas offer up strong work here, to be sure, and yet Chris Pine’s go-for-broke efforts as a completely unhinged millionaire easily earn him the title of MVP.) There’s little doubt, however, that Stretch‘s episodic structure eventually (and perhaps inevitably) paves the way for a distressingly hit-and-miss midsection, as the picture is riddled with silly, ineffective segments that pave the way for a comparatively lackluster third act – which, though it admittedly does close on a satisfying note, ultimately cements the film’s place as an erratic (but mostly entertaining) endeavor that remains watchable throughout.

**1/2 out of ****