Main Cast: Tom Berenger, Erika Eleniak, William McNamara, Crispin Glover, Gary Busey, Matthew Glave
Release Year: 1994
Country: US
Run Time: 105 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
In director Dennis Hopper's comedy reminiscent of The Last Detail, Rock Reilly (Tom Berenger), a gruff naval veteran who plays by the rules, arrives at a Marine base, in tow with his wheeler-dealer companion Eddie Devane (William McNamara), and finds himself assigned to escort the voluptuous Toni Johnson (Erika Eleniak) to military prison, Toni being sentenced from seven to ten years for assault and going AWOL. As in The Last Detail, the three service-persons get to know each other (in the case of Toni and Rock, they get to know each other intimately) as they make their way across the Southeastern seaboard to deliver Toni to prison. As they travel on, Toni repeatedly tries to escape from the two men as the trio encounters an array of guest-star cameos (Gary Busey, Seymour Cassel, Crispin Glover, Dean Stockwell, Frederic Forrest, and Marilu Henner -- among others). Even Hopper himself makes an appearance -- as a dirty old man with an inflatable date. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
Review
A strange choice for Dennis Hopper -- and an unfortunate choice for whatever director had gotten stuck with it -- Chasers is a failed little military comedy that everyone involved with would likely prefer to forget. It starts with the dubious conceit that former Baywatch babe and Playboy playmate Erika Eleniak is a derelict soldier awaiting trial for her transgressions. Even if her ample proportions could withstand the rigors of military life, would a person capable of making a living on her looks even choose such a life? For a few minutes after the audience agrees to meet the film on its terms, Chasers gets a few laughs as soldiers Tom Berenger and William McNamara escort Eleniak through a couple goofball set pieces, and Eleniak proves to be a comedian of passable ability. But then Hopper cheapens her newfound standing with the audience by delivering the inevitable softcore sex scene, during which his camera hungrily explores her naked body. The mild erotica is an abrupt and off-putting tonal change from the light, slapstick mood that had been on the verge of winning over the audience. Hopper's own cameo, as a perverted man who gives the escapee a ride, puts the capper on a series of bad mid-film decisions that turn it into a disaster by the end credits. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide
Grand L. Bush - Vance Dooly; Frederic Forrest - Duane; Dean Stockwell - Salesman Stig; Bitty Schram - Flo; Seymour Cassel - Master Chief Bogg; Marilu Henner - Katie; Dennis Hopper - Doggie; Scott Marlowe - Fast Food Clown; Mick McGovern - State Trooper; Robert Pentz - Street Tough #1; Rick Warner - Master Chief; Wallace Wilkinson - Preacher; Michael Martin - Elderly Man; Jim Grimshaw - Chief Yarboro; Mary Jo Slater; Bob Dorough - Piano Player/Singer; Charles Page - Guard Box Marine
Credit
Natalie Wilson - Art Director, Joe Batteer - Associate Producer, Mary Jo Slater - Casting, David Wisnievitz - Co-producer, Michael T. Boyd - Costume Designer, Babu (T.R.) Subramaniam - First Assistant Director, Dennis Hopper - Director, Christian Wagner - Editor, Gary Barber - Executive Producer, Dwight Yoakam - Composer (Music Score), Peter Anderson - Composer (Music Score), Roger Pietschmann - Musical Direction/Supervision, Allan A. Apone - Makeup, Paul Lewis - Production Designer, Robert Pearson - Production Designer, Ueli Steiger - Cinematographer, Paul Taylor - Cinematographer, Paul Lewis - Producer, James G. Robinson - Producer, Kate J. Sullivan - Set Designer, Dan Gilroy - Screenwriter, Joe Gayton - Screenwriter, Joe Batteer - Screenwriter, John Rice - Screenwriter
Gruff Chief Petty Officer Rock Reilly (Tom Berenger), and a young yeoman, Seaman Apprentice Eddie Devane (William McNamara) who have to escort a very seductive and leggy young woman, Ensign Toni Johnson (Erika Eleniak). She manages to seduce Eddie and escapes to the hands of women's underwear seller Doggie (Dennis Hopper) in a cameo and has to encounter marine prison guard, Sgt. Vince Banger (Gary Busey).
