It is relatively rare to find television shows or movies that feature sociologists. Here is a new one: the upcoming movie Hit & Run features one of the lead characters as a sociology instructor.

Charlie Bronson (Dax Shepard) is trying to live a quiet, respectable life in a small California town in Hit & Run. He’s doing right by his girlfriend (Kristen Bell), a nonviolent conflict resolution specialist teaching sociology at a local college, sharing a tender moment in bed as the film opens. But, things go south really quickly.

You see, Charlie’s actually in the witness protection program for testifying about a botched robbery turned homicide he witnessed in Los Angeles. Now his girlfriend’s been offered the opportunity of a lifetime in LA and, rather than lose her, Charlie decides to risk everything to get her there. The couple quickly picks up a few tails in pursuit, including Charlie’s assigned marshal (Tom Arnold), Bell’s jealous ex (Michael Rosenbaum), the cons Charlie ratted out (Bradley Cooper, Ryan Hansen and Joy Bryant), and a pair of local law enforcement caught up in the swing of it.

I wonder how much the film plays up the irony of a “nonviolent conflict resolution specialist” teaching sociology getting involved in exciting car chases…