Two mis-matched men, Arlo, an Ice Cream truck driver, and Tim a convenience store clerk, are forced to team up with each other, and get on each others nerves, when through a series of circumstances, they get possession of a top-secret, bio-warfare weapon, when heated to over 50 F, detonates and releases a lethal cloud of radioactivity in which a disgruntled, former U.S. Army officer and his team of alienated, former Army soldiers-turned-terrorists, want to use against the government for making them the scapegoats years earlier for their handling of the virus and covering up the existence of the weapon. With time running out, and the outdoor temperature rising, Arlo and Tim must outwit their pursuers and try to find a way to dispose of the weapon before they both become dead meat. Ten years after a covert military experiment on a remote Pacific island went wrong and killed eighteen servicemen and his assistant, Dr. Richard Long is still trying to forget the havoc that the experiment caused. Living in the small town of Jerome, Montana, Long still does scientific experiments at the local base, and he enjoys his time fly-fishing with Tim Mason, who works at a local diner. Long is visited by Colonel Andrew Brynner, a former military officer who took the blame and served ten years in Leavenworth Federal Prison for Long's experiment. Now a free man with a score to settle, Brynner has assembled a team of terrorists, including an icy blond named Vaughn. Brynner plans to steal and then sell "Elvis" – Long's highly volatile, blue crystal substance – to the highest international bidder. Unfortunately for him, Long, who gets killed, has already delivered "Elvis" to Mason, along with directions that the substance must remain below fifty degrees Fahrenheit, or it will detonate and vaporize everyone within several hundred miles of it. After Mason and Arlo, a wisecracking ice cream delivery man, have a run-in with Brynner, they try to get the substance to Fort Magruder. They don't exactly get along with each other – Arlo only agrees to transport the substance in his ice cream truck because Mason held a gun on him – but they find a common bond in trying to avoid Brynner, who will stop at nothing to get the substance. Chill Factor was definitely an enjoyable movie for an action film fan. The plot, although at times flawed, was intriguing enough to keep a viewer interested. Skeet Ulrich and Cuba Gooding Jr. worked well together. However, Gooding Jr., although decent, didn't appear as comical in the role as for instance a Chris Tucker or Chris Rock. The villain was evil but slightly hard to believe. I would give examples of the flaws but I would rather not give scenes away. This is a good movie but does not compare with various other movies of its genre. Over the past few months, I've been taken in by some movies that have been deemed 'cinematic masterpieces' by some. I've also had the 'pleasure' of watching TV-movies that can be found at the bottom of the bargain bin in some video stores.<br/><br/>This movie is neither. It is not a 10/10 movie masterpiece, nor is it a bargain-bin, third-rate, C-list, avoid-at-all-costs tape. It sits right in the middle of the spectrum. It is watchable and entertaining, yet not exactly worthy of the Oscar or Golden Globe awards. It was action-packed, fun to watch and a great way to spend a Saturday night at home, either by yourself or others.<br/><br/>Out of ten, I give this film a 7. It lost 3 points for the somewhat hollow acting, but still, it was a fun movie, if you don't take it seriously. Melts swiftly…don't expect a shred of credibility.
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295 weeks ago