Chill Factor (1999)

7% of critics liked it
(73 reviews)
36% of users liked it
(12,898 ratings)

In this action thriller, the only things standing in the way of world destruction are two guys in an ice cream truck. On a remote island in the South Pacific, a secret weapons project (code name "Elvis") goes wrong, and a new chemical weapon, safe when frozen but deadly when thawed, is allowed to… More In this action thriller, the only things standing in the way of world destruction are two guys in an ice cream truck. On a remote island in the South Pacific, a secret weapons project (code name "Elvis") goes wrong, and a new chemical weapon, safe when frozen but deadly when thawed, is allowed to escape. Eighteen soldiers are killed, leaving behind only the scientist who created the formula and the officer in charge of the project, who is saddled with most of the blame. Ten years later, Tim Mason (Skeet Ulrich) is working at a diner in Montana when an old friend, Dr. Richard Long (David Paymer), is seriously wounded by Maj. Andrew Brynner (Peter Firth). It seems that Dr. Long helped create Elvis and Maj. Brynner was the officer who took the fall for the disaster ten years ago. Near death, Long gives Elvis to Mason and tells him that it has to be kept solidly frozen and delivered to Fort Magruder, 90 miles away. But how to keep it at zero degrees until then? A logical solution presents itself when Arlo (Cuba Gooding Jr.), who drives an ice cream truck, makes a delivery to the diner. Mason drafts Arlo into helping him transport Elvis to safety, and before long Brynner's men are hot on the trail of the icy chemical weapon. First-time director Hugh Johnson learned his craft in part through his work as a cameraman for Ridley Scott: he was the cinematographer for White Squall and G.I. Jane. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 42 min.
Directed By: Hugh Johnson
Written By: Drew Gitlin, Mike Cheda
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Sep 1, 1999 Wide
On DVD: Mar 21, 2000
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures

Critic Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
The stunt work is pretty good, the brain work close to nonexistent.
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
Here's someone's idea of a cool movie concept: A couple of guys are speeding along in an ice-cream truck carrying a bomb that will explode if it gets above 50. No, not miles per hour -- degrees Fahrenheit!
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune
Chill Factor is a picture well below zero, a thriller that confuses pace with tension and wisecracks with humor.
Jay Carr, Boston Globe
Gooding plays the worst role I've ever seen him play in a movie!
John Hartl, Film.com
Instantly disposable!
Bob Longino, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A rehash of better action films.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Generic, unoriginal and pretty stupid.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Each and every action scene is stolen from some other movie.
Wally Hammond, Time Out
The atmosphere is winning, with the odd felicity peppering the journey with gags and groans.
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
We've been here before and it's been done better, much better.
Kate Manning, Palo Alto Weekly
Willful suspension of disbelief won't do it.
John R. McEwen, Film Quips Online
Blends lousy screenwriting with a totally ridiculous premise, and flavors it lovingly with unrealistic situations and unfathomable directing choices.
Kim Newman, Sight and Sound
Neither Ulrich's brooding intensity nor Gooding's funky panic act (he whines throughout the stunt work) add much to the enterprise.
Susan Granger, rec.arts.movies.reviews
It's toxic, all right.
Betty Jo Tucker, ReelTalk Movie Reviews
Its visual thrills and solid performances combine to make it an above average film treat.
Kristan Ginther, Boxoffice Magazine
[A] flaccid action picture.
Peter Keough, Boston Phoenix
The movie doesn't get any funnier.
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
This film is easily forgettable.
James Hebert, San Diego Union-Tribune
The plot is rigged to disintegrate if a moviegoer's IQ nudges above 70.
Jeff Vice, Deseret News, Salt Lake City
Surprisingly thrill-less!

Read all 20 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Jason O

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… More
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." NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2001. Not bad for a "Speed" ripoff.
xGary X

Ridiculous buddy thriller in which Cuba Gooding's ice cream delivery man gets roped into hauling unstable chemical weapons around in his truck, pursued by moustache twirling villain Peter Firth. It's obviously trash, but Gooding and Ulrich's good-natured banter keeps it… More
Ridiculous buddy thriller in which Cuba Gooding's ice cream delivery man gets roped into hauling unstable chemical weapons around in his truck, pursued by moustache twirling villain Peter Firth. It's obviously trash, but Gooding and Ulrich's good-natured banter keeps it watchable in a reasonably entertaining comic action no-brainer.
Dean M

Fine action with Skeet Ulrich and Cuba Gooding Jr. go on the lam with a deadly biological weapon to keep it out of the hands of a demented arms dealer. Stitched together from pieces of better movies including Speed and Raiders of the Lost Ark and… More
Fine action with Skeet Ulrich and Cuba Gooding Jr. go on the lam with a deadly biological weapon to keep it out of the hands of a demented arms dealer. Stitched together from pieces of better movies including Speed and Raiders of the Lost Ark and hammered across with clumsy enthusiasm, the film quickly becomes noisy and overbearing.
Dean !

Quite an average low budget action film. Not the greatest plot in the world.
Leigh R

Great.