‘Go’ Spins to Its Edge With Wild, Assured and Comical Abandon

If Ronna (Sarah Polley), an 18-year-old Von’s cashier, weren’t facing eviction and if her British co-worker Simon (Desmond Askew) hadn’t gone off to Vegas, then we might have been cruelly deprived of all the inspired mayhem that makes “Go” such fun. “Swingers,” which marked Doug Liman’s much-noted 1996 directorial debut, does not prepare you for the heady rush or nonstop comic anarchy of his follow-up feature.

Whereas “Swingers” writer-star Jon Favreau provided Liman a sweet story of camaraderie among a group of guys not as cool as they think they are, “Go” writer John August creates a screenful of world-class risk-takers.

In place of the everyday reality in “Swingers,” “Go” offers breathtaking comic-action fantasy. Yet both films seem to be taking place in the same world, that of young people living marginal lives and wishing they were lots closer to the center.

Since Simon, who has a sideline in drug dealing, is not around, Adam (Scott Wolf) and Zack (Jay Mohr), TV series co-stars, approach Ronna to see if she can supply them with 20 hits of Ecstasy to take to a Christmas season bash at a warehouse. With a coolness born of desperation, Ronna says yes, and she and her reluctant pal at the store, Claire (Katie Holmes), are off to Simon’s supplier, Todd (Timothy Olyphant), a sexy but dangerous dude with Valentino sideburns. In a flash Ronna is in major trouble.

“Go” then cuts back to Simon, who is recklessness personified, with his pals, most notably level-headed Marcus (Taye Diggs), taking off for Vegas where they are plunged into ever-spiraling hair-raising adventures. In almost less time than it takes to report, Simon steals a car, shoots a lap-dance club bouncer and has sex with two women--simultaneously. (Never mind that they set a hotel room on fire in the process.)

Then we return to the moment Adam and Zack approach Ronna and follow their story, which includes a hilariously insinuating encounter with a rugged cop (William Fichtner) and his beautiful wife (Jane Krakowski)--and which eventually propels the clever resolution of all three episodes.

When all is said and done, “Go” is a film about people going too far, which works precisely because its makers know when to hold back. “Go” keeps us guessing, especially about Ronna’s fate, but it never forgets it’s a comedy; if it was too serious it would burst like a bubble.

So uniformly skilled and talented is the film’s cast, which has 15 featured players, that it is impossible to single out any one. “Go” is perfectly titled: Exhilarating and sharp, it never stops for a second.

* MPAA rating: R, for strong drug content, sexuality, language and some violence. Times guidelines: The film is unsuitable for children.

‘Go’

Desmond Askew: Simon Baines

Taye Diggs: Marcus

William Fichtner: Burke

J.E. Freeman: Victor Sr.

Katie Holmes: Claire Montgomery

Jane Krakowski: Irene

Breckin Meyer: Tiny

Jay Mohr: Zack

Timothy Olyphant: Todd Gaines

Sarah Polley: Ronna Martin

Scott Wolf: Adam

A Columbia Pictures presentation of a Banner Entertainment production in association with Saratoga Entertainment. Director-cinematographer Doug Liman. Producers Paul Rosenberg, Mickey Liddell, Matt Freeman. Screenplay by John August. Editor Stephen Mirrione. Music BT. Costumes Genevieve Tyrrell. Production designer Tom Wilkins. Art director Rebecca Young. Set decorator F. Beauchamp Hebb. Running time: 1 hour, 41 minutes.

In general release.