A Perfect Getaway

In this twisty thriller, a Hawaiian honeymoon turns into a nightmare after newlyweds begin to suspect their hiking companions are ruthless killers. It could be that screenwriter Cliff (Steve Zahn in a rare dramatic role) has seen too many movies, but when he and spouse Cydney (Milla Jovovich) set out on a remote coastal trail, news of a recent murder certainly puts them on edge. Writer/director David Twohy then entertainingly blends character comedy and escalating tension as they find themselves waylaid by a couple of hitch-hikers before making camp with a crossbow-carrying former soldier (Timothy Olyphant) whose girlfriend (Kiele Sanchez) displays goat-gutting skills that are clearly out of the ordinary. Of course, the film has to reveal its hand eventually and, although the secret's not unguessable, it prompts a crunching climactic set-to that's delivered with maximum impact. Curiously, the very obviously digitally contrived scenery proves reminiscent of an old-fashioned B-movie. But as B-movies go, with the mid-ranking cast raising their game and plenty of sly wit to augment the plot chicanery, at least it's a good one.