The Getaway

The last time real life couple Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger shared a screen was in the ill-fated "Too Hot to Handle" those who had the misfortune to actually see that film, rest assured that The Getaway has absolutely none of the same sad hang-ups.

Any intrepidness or caution you may have is misplaced, this remake of Sam Peckinpah's 1972 box office hit is a fast paced and extremely slick thriller. Baldwin stars as Doc McCoy a thief with a strict ethics code (honest!) who finds himself incarcerated after a dodgy deal and at the mercy of Jack Benyon (the wonderfully sleazy James Woods). The fun really begins after McCoy's release, as he and his missus (the lovely Ms Basinger) hot foot it with Benyon's loot pursued by Rudy Travis (Michael Madsen, proving his psychopathic ability in Reservoir Dogs wasn't a fluke).

Director Roger Donaldson ensures that the pace never slackens, emphasizing the heat of the chase and the unbridled passion of the couple by setting much of the movie in steaming deserts and dusty roadhouses. Baldwin and Basinger make a surprisingly convincing team but the film is stolen by Madsen as the loony with a penchant for kittens, (Excuse me!? - Ed.) and Jennifer Tilly as an equally unbalanced hostage.

This is not your average Hollywood rehash, and anyone looking for a solidly entertaining action thriller (don't forget to mention the blatent "Hotter than Basic Instincts" sex scenes - Alex) will be well advised to check it out!

Caroline Smith.