
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, June 11, 1994                    TAG: 9406100079 
SECTION: DAILY BREAK                     PAGE: B3    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: By MAL VINCENT\
DATELINE: 940611                                 LENGTH: Medium

BRACE FOR A CRAZY RIDE IN ``SPEED''

{LEAD} ``SPEED'' IS ONE of those movies you want to talk back to. It's just that you can't get in a word.

It's put-the-pedal-to-the-floor action that sweeps audiences along at such breakneck speed that we don't really have time to consider, or care about, the blatant implausibilities. The plot is more than a little ridiculous, but you don't have time to think about it until after you've left the theater. Director Jan De Bont encourages us to have fun in a kind of ``Can you top this?'' mode.

{REST} The premise is pretty silly. A psychotic bomber has placed an explosive on a Los Angeles city bus. It will be activated once the vehicle hits 50 mph, and it is set to explode if the bus goes below 50. The orders are that no one can get off the bus or things will go boom-boom.

The bus sequence is perhaps the longest chase sequence in movie history, but it has its subplots. This amounts to three action movies for the price of one.

Jack Travern, a young member of Los Angeles' SWAT team, is joined by his partner, the bland Harry Temple, to help rescue a bunch of folks trapped in a falling elevator in a high-rise. A bomb has been placed there by a character played by Dennis Hopper.

Keanu Reeves is cast as the earnest and energetic Jack, and Jeff Daniels plays Keanu's partner.

A surprise, though, is Sandra Bullock, who makes more than she might have out of the role of the passenger who is forced to drive the out-of-control bus. Bullock brings a sense of humor to the role that is a needed contrast to Keanu's sourpuss concern. She is not the usual decoration but a woman who takes charge.

Another surprise is that Hopper doesn't even attempt to steal the film or chew the scenery. His villain is quieter than you'd expect, but no matter. There's enough movement so that you only need a villain as motivation.

Just when you're ready to go home happy and exhausted, a grand finale is thrown in - a wild subway chase. It's the first time Los Angeles' still-unfinished system has been used in a movie.

Sure, you can pick ``Speed'' apart plotwise, but you'll be persuaded, instead, just to hold on to your seat.

by CNB