This formulaic 1997 comedy becomes needlessly complicated at points but feeds off the high energy of Chris Tucker (The Fifth Element, Rush Hour). Tucker plays a two-bit con man, Franklin Hatchett, framed for the prison breakout of a ruthless criminal. Hunted by both the police and the bad guys, Hatchett finds his only hope in a smarmy, self-serving television reporter played by the perfectly cast Charlie Sheen (Platoon), who agrees to protect the nervous, hapless patsy only to further his own career. The plot is at times just plain dumb, and the requisite car chases and explosions happen a bit too frequently. But Tucker's manic energy and off-the-wall humor, as he is thrown into situations of mistaken identity and mortal danger, make the movie a frenetic and entertaining romp. --Robert Lane