'Hit and Run' uniquely good comedy movie (review) (trailer)

"Hit and Run" doesn't sit at the top of the all-time best comedy films. It definitely isn't the worst comedy movie ever made. "Hit and Run" is what it is; a unique, comedy with a Farrelly Bros. feel.

Real-life couple Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard play the roles of Charlie Bronson and Annie. Bronson is a self-named character who is in the witness protection program. As far as Annie is aware, he is in the program for witnessing a crime.

Enter Tom Arnold. Arnold plays the role of Randy, Bronson's quirky monitor for the witness protection program. Randy appears on the screen with a bang and a huge bang at that. Driving his van is not his forte, as viewers can tell immediately. His van drives off without him (it helps when you put it in park) as he steps out.

Trying to stop the van is comical, yet scary. The van begins to rush through the windy, dirt road (amazingly stays on its path too). Randy rushes after his escaping vehicle and finally does what most van owners wish they could do. He pulls out his gun and opens fire.

The van rushes through Bronson's yard and into the neighbor's property. There are two small girls sitting under a shade tree, with the van heading straight for them. It's a nail biting moment, however, it's obvious the van won't hit the children, otherwise we wouldn't have a comedy (at least the viewer hopes).

Bronson flies into the neighbor's yard as his mentor, Randy, is trying to explain his mishap to the mother of the children. Randy is flailing the gun around his body as he's attempting some sort of description as to what happened with his car.

Annie comes home from work to the love of her life, Bronson. Charlie is a caring, sweet, adoring man, although the two just don't seem to be the partner one would expect to be the choice of the other. Bronson is a muscle car-loving redneck and Annie is a professional go-getter. Even so, the film shows them madly in love and Charlie's sweetness and patience toward Annie gives off a bit of an untrustworthy feeling during the entirety of the film. While he is the adoring partner, something doesn't seem quite right.

The two are doing well in the little town they reside in. Annie is working toward a better job in the educational field. She is offered a position at a university in Los Angeles and decides not to take it because of Charlie.

Charlie throws his witness protection plan to the wind and decides to get Annie to her interview in Los Angeles. He throws open the garage door to show a beautiful Lincoln Continental with a souped up engine costing about $12,000. Charlie and his father built the car together as a project and it shows the two knew what they were doing.

Charlie and Annie take off to L.A., where their new life is waiting. The movie begins to open up at this point. Charlie's past is soon to catch up with him. Bradley Cooper appears, with dreadlocks no less, as Charlie's ex-partner in crime. He has two other ex-partners in tow with him. They are on their way to set things right with Bronson, who turned them in for a shorter sentence. Hence, the witness protection program.

The film moves on from here. Without giving out spoilers, Cooper and his two partners continue to chase Annie and Charlie through the trip to L.A. To make matters worse, Annie's ex-boyfriend is also involved in the chase. He wants to see Annie come back home with him and avoid the dangers of being with "bad boy" Charlie.

"Hit and Run" is filled with surprises and yet remains fairly predictable. "Hit and Run" was released in theaters in August of 2012 and raked in a $13.7 million paycheck. It was released to DVD on January 8.

Mixed reviews are coming in for "Hit and Run." It's a movie that is so unique, not in terms of story line but in the little surprises around each corner. The characters are all strange in their own dysfunctional way, which is how life normally is.

Bradley Cooper's character is portrayed as a soft, kind-hearted man, although he kicks some butt in the film as well. Dax Shepard's character of Charlie is one you love at the present moment but hate his past. Kristen Bell plays a good girl role. Tom Arnold portrays Randy as someone you would avoid at all costs, yet you feel sorry for him at the same time.

"Hit and Run" left a definite Farrelly Bros. taste, with a touch of action on underlying layers of comedy. It was fun and yet serious. It was violent and yet mild. It was worth watching just to see Bradley Cooper made up in dreadlocks!

"Hit and Run" is both funny and strange. If you're a Farrelly Bros. or Coen Bros. fan, you will love the quirky "Hit and Run."