The hit Seventies TV series, CHiPs is back on the big screen as a comedy, with a motorcycle racer as lead actor and with BMWs instead of Yamahas.
In the original TV series from 1977 to 1983, California Highway Patrol (CHiPs) officers Jon Baker and Frank ‘Ponch’ Poncherello, played by Erik Estrada and Larry Wilcox, rode Kawasaki 1000s.
Today’s CHiPs ride special BMW R 1200 RTP police bikes as used in the 2017 movie, although San Francisco CHiPs recently swapped to Harley-Davidson Electra-Glide police specials.
While the original TV series was a drama with some light moments, the movie is an action comedy, subtitled “CHiP Happens”. It is scheduled for release in Australian cinemas on August 10, 2017.
The stars are Dax Shepard from Punk’d and Idicoracy who plays Jon Baker and Mexican/American actor Michael Peña as Ponch.
Riders will be happy to see there are a lot of motorcycle stunts and that the lead actors actually ride.
Well, Dax does ride and does most of his own stunts in the film, while Michael is a learner and only rode in short sequences. There is even a joke about it in the movie.
It’s also shown in this interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live.
Dax writes, directs, stars and rides
In fact, Dax not only rides, but actually races his Ducati Hypermotard 1100S and Suzuki GSX-R1000 at Buttonwillow Raceway, California.
Dax is a multi-talented actor who also wrote and directed the movie.
Michael, who couldn’t ride, underwent four months of motorcycle training for the film.
“Four months is not a whole lot,” he says.
“Holy cow, Dax Shepard really, ‘cause he rides bikes, he’s a car guy but he’s also a motorcycle guy, so he can ride everything. I was really impressed at how he was able to just turn.”
As for the movie plot, it follows two middle-aged LA bike cops who find themselves in a sticky situation when a sadistic ex-cop and his hitmen, riding Ducat Hypermotards, wreak havoc on the city.
The cast and crew apparently worked closely with the California Highway Patrol, whose patience was “tested,” according to Dax.
“They let us drive like maniacs and never gave us a ticket. I’m not going to jail!” he says.