Review

Military scientist Paymer is developing a new chemical weapon which becomes colossally deadly when its temperature drops below 50 degrees. A major accident occurs (of course) and many soldiers are killed, but since Paymer is valuable to the military, the conscientious colonel of the mission is the fall guy. Ten years later he is released from prison, with revenge on his mind. It's up to ice-cream truck driver Gooding and night clerk Ulrich to put a stop to him. At times insultingly stupid, at times a Speed ripoff, Chill Factor is still sorta fun, in a completely mindless, cliffhanger serial way. The potential for Firth's character to be a morally conflicted bad guy (à la Ed Harris in The Rock) is scrapped early on to give us yet another cruel, colorless villain. And Gooding and Ulrich's banter becomes annoying after while. But it's never dull, though easily forgotten ten minutes after the credits roll.