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The “Girl Dad With a Gun” has been a long-beloved subgenre that has tugged on audiences' heartstrings for years. From the beloved games-turned-series,The Last of Us, Joel and Ellie are perhaps two of the most adored dad-and-daughter duos of all time, withPedro Pascalat the scene of the father-figure crime. (Speaking of Pascal, doesThe Mandaloriancount?) Then there’sHugh Jackmanand the youngDafne KeeninLogan, and of course,Liam Neesonand Maggie Grace inTaken. However, an important factor in this subgenre’s success is a solid child performance, and, well, there hasn’t been a drought in that department as of late.
There have also certainly been more than a few phenomenal breakout child performances in some brutal films this year. FromAlfie Williams’impressive portrayal alongsideAaron Taylor-JohnsonandJodie Comerin28 Years LatertoJonah Wren Phillips’unnerving acting in thePhilippou Brothers’compelling and disturbing horror film,Bring Her Back, the kids have not exactly been alright. The same goes for newcomerAna Sophia Heger, who plays opposite an intense and utterly brutalTaron Egertonin Nick Rowland’s new American crime thriller,She Rides Shotgun.
What Is ‘She Rides Shotgun’ About?
She Rides Shotgunis a gritty drama-turned-chase-thriller adapted fromJordanHarper’s debut novel of the same name. The film follows young Polly (Sophia Heger), the daughter of ex-con Nate (Egerton), as the two attempt to evade death together while on the road. Their destination is Mexico, as Nate believes safety for them exists beyond the border, and with Polly’s mother dead—and with him having been framed for her death—well, there aren’t many better options.Nate is being hunted by not only the cops for a crime he did not commit, but also by a dangerous drug-laden gang as well—and neither group exactly cares to have him alive. As Nate was just released from prison and had been away the majority of Polly’s life, the two don’t particularly know each other well. Polly is initially terrified of her father, who is heartbroken that everyone, including his daughter, seems to think he’s a man beyond repair.The development of their relationshipis perhaps the greatest aspect of the film, as Polly and Nate inevitably learn to trust and care for one another in ways they haven’t experienced before,even despite the chaos and fear they are navigating togetheron an hourly basis.
The two learn and work together toevade corrupt police and ruthless gang members,surviving parking lot shoot-outs, wild car chases in hot-wired vehicles they stole together, and some brutal hand-to-hand combat when cornered. Thesenear-death experiences prove to be an effective way to bond,as Nate slowly learns more about his daughter, from her sheer intelligence as a math whiz to her surprising bravery in the face of danger. He teaches her how to protect herself, and in return, Polly shows him a pure, unconditional, and nonjudgmental version of love that he’s never experienced before. In an almost poetic way amidst the violence and chaos, he hardens her in an effort to protect her from the world, and she, in turn, softens him.
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Egerton’s portrayal of a troubled arson investigator will keep you guessing.
She Rides Shotgunboasts a good amount of action and a surprising level of brutality that comes through in the second act. The film is an admirable attempt atcombining an emotional, character-driven drama and an intense action-thriller,and it succeeds fine enough, achieving what it needs to, but finds itself struggling tonally at times. The thriller is tame enough to begin with before it commits to a certain level of gore and brutality out of the blue that is unexpected, to say the least. And thoughthe shock value is undeniably effective, the juxtaposition of the sincere development between Nate and Polly and some rather melodramatic baddies uttering what could be considered cartoonish dialogue is rather disorienting. The writing has much to be desired, asShe Rides Shotgun’s more-than-familiar script sometimes threatens to dip the film into B-movie territory,so it’s truly due to the incredible performances and solid technicals that keepthe thrillerafloat, but even then, it’s an entertaining and enjoyable time to be had.
Taron Egerton and Ana Sophia Heger Are the Heart of ‘She Rides Shotgun’
Taron Egerton is utterly phenomenal as the troubled father Nate, and it’s apparent that theRocketmanactor gives his all. He nails wild, physical scenes of brutality and violence as well as the more raw and emotional side of his performance alongside his equally talented—albeit smaller—co-star.Despite this,it’s ultimately Ana Sophia Heger’s film, and she steals the show, proving without a doubt that she can hold her own against heavyweight actors and an intense story. She carries the most extreme and weighty scenes with ease, showcasing her impressive and versatile skills as she slowly transforms into a haunted and traumatized little girl throughout the runtime. From upsetting, action-packed scenes that have Polly screaming in terror and anguish to more subtle moments that have the camera lingering on her and her alone, Sophia Heger proves she is a revelation. There are other highlights as well, likeUntil Dawn’sOdessa A’zion,who has a small but effective and well-acted role as a morally gray Charlotte, andThe Menu’sRobYangas John Park, an unpredictable officer hunting the duo.
She Rides Shotgunis ultimately an entertaining and great time to be had, with more heart—and guts and gore—than one may expect going in. Combined with solid technicals and some nail-biting action, the familiar yet effective story is enough to capture attention. With this addition, the"Girl Dad With a Gun" genre has another solid installment,and although Pedro Pascal is nowhere to be seen in this one, it’s fair to say Egerton and his co-star have this one under control. And witha final, singular shot that lingerson Sophia Heger—one that’s enough to produce both tears and goosebumps—she singlehandedly proves she’s the next child star to keep an eye out for, and we can thankShe Rides Shotgunfor bringing her talent to our screens.
She Rides Shotgunis now playing in theaters.
She Rides Shotgun
