“Stretch” is an action comedy thriller written and directed by Joe Carnahan, known for films such as his 2006 film “Smokin’ Aces” and his recent film “The Grey.” Released on iTunes and Amazon on Oct. 7 and on video on demand on Oct. 14, the film follows a new trend of feature films being released online instead of cinemas.
The film focuses on the ideas of fate, coincidence and chance. It starts with Kevin Stretch (Patrick Wilson) high on cocaine and flying out of his car that’s just been hit; he lands and meets the apparent girl of his dreams, played by Brooklyn Decker. Stretch later finds himself spiraling down a series of fate-like coincidences, yet he continues to refuse to see himself as a fatalist. He slowly becomes convinced that whatever is happening seems to be more and more like fate rather than chance.
He later finds himself recovered from his drug, alcohol and gambling addictions, driving behind the wheel of a stretch limousine being harassed by actors such as David Hasselhoff and hating his life. To make matters worse, he’s just found himself needing to come up with six thousand dollars by midnight to pay off his gambling debt.
As fate does its twists and turns, it places on his lap the chance to drive around the eccentric billionaire Roger Karos (Chris Pine) to get a generous gratuity of $6,000. The film is filled with a few fun appearances as well, such as the ghost of Karl (Ed Helms), Stretch’s friend who haunts him from time to time. Spicing up or making worse his hellish life, Jessica Alba also appears as Charlie, Stretch’s co-worker.
Chris Pine outdoes himself in this film, first appearing falling out of the air naked with a pipe in his mouth and a beard like he’s from “Duck Dynasty,” and later in a limo in Kabuki theater makeup and unsheathing a samurai sword.
In the midst of all the R-rated humor and ridiculousness, the script is well written and the characters are well played.
Though the ending was rather predictable, it doesn’t take away from the film as much as one might think. It keeps the audience, as well as Stretch himself, wondering whether fate is real or if everything is just a matter of timing. Whether you’re a fatalist or an indeterminist, the film is worth the small stretch it takes to watch online.
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