Milo Boyd, a former New York police detective turned bounty hunter, is thrilled to land a job that seems like an easy payday: bringing in his ex-wife, Nicole Hurley, an investigative reporter who has skipped a bail hearing after being arrested for assaulting a police officer. Nicole is chasing a story about an apparent suicide that may have been a cover-up, and soon the two find themselves hunted by several parties with their own agendas. Forced to travel together, Milo and Nicole must set aside old grievances as the situation grows more tangled with every mile. The film mixes chase comedy and caper elements with the romantic unfinished business of a couple who split up without fully closing the door.

How it was made

The project began in May 2007, when Columbia acquired an untitled bounty hunter pitch to develop with Original Film, the company behind producer Neal H. Moritz. Andy Tennant, known for romantic comedies such as Hitch, directed. Gerard Butler and Jennifer Aniston headline, with Jason Sudeikis, Christine Baranski and Jeff Garlin in supporting roles. George Fenton composed the score and Oliver Bokelberg shot the film. Its structure follows a familiar formula, alternating chases and comic set pieces with the slow rekindling of its central pair.

Reception and legacy

Critics were largely hostile. The film holds a 13% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 22 out of 100. Roger Ebert gave it a low rating, faulting its dialogue and worn-out action clichés, while A.O. Scott of The New York Times wrote a wholly negative review. Kerry Lengel of The Arizona Republic praised the leads' chemistry but found the plot improbable. Audiences were kinder, and the film was a commercial success, opening third with $20.7 million and grossing about $136 million worldwide. It earned four Razzie nominations at the 2011 ceremony and won none.