Drive Hard: A Ride You Might Wanna Get Off?

Alright, so listened… Drive Hard – or Hard Drive if you’re that kinda person – landed on my screen the other night. I was feeling a bit restless, like after watching a hockey match that ends with penalties and you just want a bloody resolution, you know?

This one’s directed by Brian Trenchard-Smith, who’s like an Aussie legend if you’re into B-movies. He’s done everything from “Dead-End Drive-In” to wild cult stuff… Always up for a laugh and a big ol’ car crash. Speaking of legends: Thomas Jane, still rocking that halfway-decent hair and a “I-really-should’ve-read-the-script” face, and John Cusack wearing a cap like he’s hiding from Skatteverket. Two names that, at least back in ’98, probably would’ve packed Globen, right?

The plot? Jane’s a driving instructor, ex-cop (obvs), gets hijacked by Cusack, proper professional thief vibes, but not exactly Ocean’s Eleven. It’s more dad-rock than punk. Fast cars, lotta shouting, bit of banter, and suddenly you’re watching something your uncle probably would’ve rented on VHS and then forgotten to return to Hemmakväll. I actually have this memory – late autumn, maybe ’95, dad had snuck home “Speed” from the video store, and we all sat eating punch rolls and screaming when the bus did the jump. This… was almost that, just with less punch in the rolls.

You can smell the sweat of Queensland through your TV. There’s dust in the air, neon lights from some tired casino, the sound of engines revving and gunshots that don’t sound anything like a real gun (I grew up with hunting in Småland – trust me).

But I dunno… Sometimes it feels like the film’s sorta taking the piss on itself? Are we supposed to root for anybody? Maybe. Maybe not. Kinda fun, kinda dumb. The script has holes big enough to drive a Volvo 240 through. But who cares if the ride’s bumpy? Some nights, that’s all you’re after.

So, if you once borrowed your mate’s Saab and did donuts on the ice behind Coop… yeah, you’re the target audience here.

Would I watch it again? Maybe, if nothing else’s on and I get nostalgic

watch the full movie on Mavshack Movies on YouTube

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