Product Details

• Actors: Cuba Gooding Jr., Skeet Ulrich, Peter Firth, David Paymer, Hudson Leick
• Directors: Hugh Johnson
• Writers: Drew Gitlin, Mike Cheda
• Producers: Bill Bannerman, David C. Robinson, James G. Robinson, Jeffrey R. Neuman, Jonathan A. Zimbert
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Subtitles: Spanish
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• VHS Release Date: June 6, 2000
• Run Time: 102 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00003RQKV
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #698,007 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Someone must have really shown Cuba Gooding Jr. the money for him to risk his Oscar cachet on this derivative buddy movie that never quite gets up to Speed despite its blatant ripoff of that breakneck thriller's gimmick. Instead of a bomb-rigged bus forced to maintain its speed of 50 mph, here we have Elvis, a chemical weapon that must be kept cooler than 50 degrees. Standing between us and flesh-melting defoliant devastation are the requisite mismatched antagonists Mason, a short-order cook (Skeet Ulrich), and Arlo, a thief (Gooding).

Elvis was created by Mason's fishing buddy, Dr. Richard Long (David Paymer), a biologist still shaken up by a deadly test 10 years earlier that went awry and killed 18 soldiers. Instead of Long, "thorn in the side" Captain Andrew Bryner (Peter Firth) took the fall and went to prison. Now, the embittered Bryner has been released and is understandably vengeful. A ticking time bomb himself, the demented Bryner leads the relentless pursuit of Mason and Arlo, who have been compelled by Long to transport Elvis to a military base 90 miles away in--get this--Arlo's ice cream truck.

Gooding works hard for the money, although he was shortchanged by the script ("I'd like to kick your ass like last year's underwear" is a sample bon mot). Still, he makes his exuberant Oscar acceptance speech look restrained. And Firth makes an effective villain. "Your lives will end on this miserable road to nowhere," he warns the duo, "and I can't guarantee the end will be quick." Hardly a Factor at the box office, this thriller is fine for action fans who want to put their brains on cruise control and just chill at home. --Donald Liebenson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Action Factor, November 13, 2002

By 

C. A. Luster "The Rook" (Burke, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Chill Factor (DVD)

This is one of those movies that often gets overlooked because it was not a big hit at the box office. Cuba Gooding Jr., Skeet Ulrich, Peter Firth, and the rest the cast turn in great performances. I always like Gooding but I think this is one of his best roles. To me much better than "Jerry McGuire" or "Pearl Harbor". The story is good, the sets are great, and the music nicely adds to the action/drama. If you enjoyed "Broken Arrow", "Outbreak", or "The Rock" you should enjoy this movie. It is a rollercoaster ride as Gooding and Ulrich try to stop terrorist from using a nerve gas (ELVIS) on the public and deliver it to a military base. Cuba drives an ice cream delivery truck and Skeet works in a diner.

When a scientist drops this biohazardous weapon in their lap at the diner with terrorist hot on his trail it takes off running. As they try to keep it from the terrorist they must maintain it at a temperature no warmer than 50 degrees. Ever try to defend an ice cream truck driving on mountainous roads in traffic? This is one of my favorite action films and I think it is often underrated by cynics. If you like action movies with Cage, Travolta, Stallone, Willis, or Schwarzenegger I will be surprised if you are disapointed. It is one you will enjoy going back and watching on a regular basis. I recommend buying it on DVD. If you like Cuba Gooding Jr. be sure to see "Murder of Crows" as well.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Chill out!, June 16, 2000

By 

Marco Albini (Switzerland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chill Factor (DVD)

Well don't expect an intelligent plot and good actors when you rent or buy this movie but sometimes, the most stupid movies are the most entertaining of them all.... The story mixes "Speed" with "Lethal Weapon". Two ordinary guys have to transport an extremely dangerous weapon that sets off if its temperature reaches 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Off course some bad guys are after that weapon which Cuba and Skeet are driving through the state ina an icecream-truck... There are some very decent action scenes that'll put you to the edge of your seat. So forget logic and let yourself be chillled by an entertainig and fast-paced movie that doesn't want to be more than that. Now we all now that Cuba Gooding Jr. is an excellent actor but unfortunetly his two-dimensional character doesn't leave him any space to do so. Skeet Ulrich... well did you expect him to do anything elkse than just trying to look good with his big dark eyes? So just take out the Popcorn and enjoy the ride! Don't mind the crappy Slow-motion. The director was the director of Photography of G.I.Jane.....

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not bad for a "Speed" ripoff, September 28, 2001

By 

jasenao (Dothan, Alabama, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chill Factor [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Let me start off by saying that "Speed" is one of my all-time favorite movies, and that "Chill Factor's" plot centers a lot around "Speed's" main idea. Luckily for me, a movie taking the formula of a much more successful and original movie hasn't ever bothered me as much as it does most of the movie critics, just as long as it's also a good movie, which "Chill Factor" is.

Tim Mason (Skeet Ulrich) and the driver of a stolen ice cream truck, Arlo (Cuba Gooding Jr.), get tangled up in a plot in which they must keep a chemical weapon from blowing up and killing millions of people. If this chemical weapon that's called 'Elvis' gets up to 50º, it will literally explode instantly. But that's not all, they have a group of madmen that are tracking them down because they want to get a hold of Elvis. The chemical weapon Elvis, not the singer who a lot of people think is still alive and kicking.

Even though "Chill Factor" is a ripoff of one of my favorite movies of all time, I have to admit that it is a very entertaining film. The script, plot, acting, and everything else about this movie is just average, but Cuba Gooding Jr. keeps it from being a dud. Throughout "Chill Factor," he is hilarious and like always, does a great job of acting. The other things that keep "Chill Factor" from being a not so good movie is that it's interesting and somewhat suspenseful at times.

If you liked "Speed," or even if you don't, I recommend at least seeing "Chill Factor."