Changing Lanes (2002)

: Hot Potato

Directed by: Roger Michell
Starring: Ben Affleck, Samuel L. Jackson

Bad decisions can, and often do, lead us into trouble, and this film drives home the point. A simple traffic accident (if there is such a thing) leads to a series of disastrous consequences when Gavin Banek (Ben Affleck), a lawyer on his way to court, collides with Doyle Gipson (Samuel L. Jackson) on the freeway. Banek refuses to take the time to handle things by the book, telling Gipson, “better luck next time”. I won’t tell you what happens next, but suffice it to say that it is not good! Affleck and Jackson are great as two grown men who resort to immature tactics and one-up-man-ship. I couldn’t help but sympathize with both of them as they go from bad to worse (who doesn’t like a little revenge now and then?), but I also laughed at their childish behavior. The ending is predictable but, hey, most are; it’s tough to surprise today’s savvy audience. It’s the performances that sizzle, and these two star potatoes delighted my palette.

-PotatoPatti