Dax Shepard really wanted to make a movie about motorcycles. Not just a movie where bikes are in the background, but a loud, crashing, R-rated tribute to the 1970s TV show that made everyone want to be a California Highway Patrol officer. When you look at the cast of CHIPS movie, it’s a weirdly perfect mix of comedy veterans, dramatic actors playing against type, and enough celebrity cameos to keep you squinting at the screen. Released in 2017, the film didn't exactly try to be a shot-for-shot remake of the original series starring Erik Estrada and Larry Wilcox. Instead, it went for something messier.
Honesty is important here. The movie got a lot of flak for being crude. But if you ignore the critics and just look at the roster of talent Shepard assembled, there is a lot of charisma on the screen. It's basically a buddy-cop movie on two wheels, fueled by the specific energy of its leads.
The Two Leads: Shepard and Peña
Dax Shepard didn't just write and direct the thing; he cast himself as Jon Baker. In this version, Baker is a washed-up pro motocross rider with more broken bones than he can count. He’s trying to save his marriage by joining the CHP, which is a hilariously bad reason to join law enforcement. Shepard brings that goofy, self-deprecating energy he’s known for from Parenthood and his Armchair Expert podcast. He’s the "straight man" but with a lot of physical comedy baggage.
Then you have Michael Peña.
Peña is arguably one of the most versatile actors working today. He can be terrifying in a drama like End of Watch or absolutely hilarious in Ant-Man. Here, he plays Frank "Ponch" Poncherello, but there is a twist. He’s actually an undercover FBI agent named Castillo who is investigating a heist within the CHP. He’s obsessed with sex, he’s high-strung, and he doesn't actually know how to ride a motorcycle at first. The chemistry between Shepard and Peña is the whole engine of the movie. They bicker like an old married couple. It feels unscripted in parts, which gives it a more "human" feel than your standard blockbuster.
Vincent D’Onofrio as the Menacing Presence
Every buddy-cop movie needs a villain, and getting Vincent D’Onofrio was a massive win for this production. He plays Vic Brown, a corrupt CHP lieutenant. D’Onofrio has this way of being physically imposing without saying much. Think back to his role as Kingpin in Daredevil—he has that same simmering rage here, though it's channeled through a crooked cop who is trying to take care of his son.
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His son is played by Justin Chatwin. Their relationship adds a weirdly dark layer to a movie that is otherwise full of jokes about spandex and back hair. D’Onofrio doesn't play the role for laughs, which actually makes the stakes feel a bit higher. It’s that contrast between the silliness of Baker and Ponch and the genuine threat of Brown that keeps the plot moving.
The Supporting Cast and Unexpected Faces
The cast of CHIPS movie is surprisingly deep. Rosa Salazar, who many now know from Alita: Battle Angel, plays Ava Perez. She’s a fellow officer and provides a lot of the grounded competence that Baker and Ponch lack.
Then there’s Jessica McNamee as Lindsey Taylor and Adam Brody as Clay Allen. Brody’s role is relatively small, but he’s always a welcome presence in these kinds of comedies. He plays the original partner of the undercover FBI agent, and his early exit from the partnership is what sets the whole Shepard-Peña pairing in motion.
- Kristen Bell: Shepard’s real-life wife plays his onscreen estranged wife, Karen. She plays her as a total narcissist, which is a fun departure from her usual "America's sweetheart" roles.
- Maya Rudolph: She shows up as Sergeant Hernandez. Her screen time is limited, but as always, Maya Rudolph steals every second she is on camera with her deadpan delivery.
- Jane Kaczmarek: Known by most as the mom from Malcolm in the Middle, she plays Police Captain Jane Lindel. She’s the one constantly yelling at the leads, a classic trope that she executes perfectly.
Why the Casting Matters for the Vibe
If this movie had featured generic action stars, it would have been forgettable. Because Dax Shepard is so ingrained in the Hollywood comedy scene, he was able to pull in people who genuinely seem like they are having fun. It’s a "vibe" movie. Is it high art? No. But the cast of CHIPS movie makes the most of a script that is essentially a series of bike stunts and dick jokes.
There’s a specific scene where the two leads are arguing about the "standard" for what makes someone attractive, and it feels like a real conversation two guys would have while sitting on motorcycles in the California sun. That’s the strength of Peña and Shepard. They don't feel like movie characters; they feel like two guys you’d regret being stuck at a party with, but you’d still have a good story to tell later.
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Cameos and Easter Eggs for Fans of the Original
The movie didn't completely ignore its roots. Erik Estrada, the original Ponch, makes a cameo appearance near the end of the film as a paramedic. It’s a "blink and you’ll miss it" moment, but it’s a nice nod to the history of the franchise. It’s also a bit of a passing of the torch, even if the new version is about 500% more vulgar than the 70s show ever was.
Interestingly, Larry Wilcox (the original Jon Baker) was notably absent. There was some public back-and-forth about his feelings on the remake, with Wilcox expressing that he wasn't a huge fan of the direction Shepard took the story. This creates an interesting tension between the old guard and the new, reminding us that remakes are rarely a clean break from the past.
The Physicality of the Performance
One thing people overlook when talking about the cast of CHIPS movie is the stunt work. Dax Shepard is a gearhead. He’s obsessed with cars and bikes. He did a significant amount of his own riding. While the stunt team handled the truly dangerous stuff—like jumping off bridges or weaving through tight traffic at high speeds—the fact that the lead actor actually knows how to handle a Ducati adds a layer of authenticity to the visuals.
Michael Peña, on the other hand, had to learn. Seeing his character struggle with the bike actually mirrors his real-world experience during the early days of prep. That awkwardness you see on screen isn't all acting; it's the genuine discomfort of a guy trying to master a high-powered machine while cameras are rolling.
Addressing the Critics and the Box Office
The movie didn't set the world on fire. It made about $26 million against a $25 million budget, which isn't exactly a home run. Critics weren't kind either, often citing the crude humor as a drawback. But looking back at it now, through the lens of 2026, there’s a certain charm to its unapologetic R-rated nature. In an era where everything feels sanitized for global audiences, CHIPS feels like a weird, loud, California-specific fever dream.
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The casting of the supporting roles, like Isiah Whitlock Jr. and Richard T. Jones, adds a layer of "prestige" to the background. You recognize these actors from shows like The Wire, and seeing them interact with Shepard’s slapstick energy is jarring in a way that actually works for the movie’s tone.
Beyond the Bikes: What Most People Miss
The heart of the movie isn't the heist or the motorcycles. It's the exploration of masculinity—granted, a very specific, somewhat broken version of it. Jon Baker is a man who has tied his entire identity to his physical prowess as an athlete. Now that his body is failing him, he’s desperate to find a new "uniform" to hide behind. Ponch is a man who uses his bravado and sexual obsession to mask the fact that he’s a bit of a loner in his professional life.
The cast of CHIPS movie handles these subtle undercurrents better than the script probably deserved. Peña, in particular, manages to make Ponch likeable despite the character’s many, many flaws. You want these guys to succeed, even when they’re accidentally blowing things up or causing multi-car pileups on the 405.
Key Takeaways for Movie Buffs
If you’re planning to revisit this film or watch it for the first time, keep an eye out for these specific details:
- Watch the background during the CHP briefing scenes. Many of the "extra" officers are actual friends of Dax Shepard and recognizable faces from the L.A. comedy circuit.
- The contrast in riding styles. Notice how Baker (Shepard) rides with a smooth, aggressive precision, while Ponch (Peña) is often stiff and upright. This was a conscious choice to reflect their characters' backgrounds.
- The soundtrack. It’s not just the cast that brings the 70s vibe; the music choices are heavily influenced by the era of the original show, creating a weird bridge between the two timelines.
- D'Onofrio's Performance. He plays the villain so straight that it almost feels like he's in a different movie, which actually heightens the comedy of the leads.
The movie serves as a time capsule of a specific moment in the mid-2010s when "raunchy reboot" was its own genre. While it didn't launch a massive franchise, the cast of CHIPS movie delivered exactly what Shepard intended: a loud, fast, and occasionally gross tribute to Southern California's highway culture.
Next Steps for the Viewer
To get the most out of your CHIPS experience, you should compare the chemistry here with Shepard and Peña's other works. Watch Michael Peña in Ant-Man to see his comedic timing at its peak, then check out Dax Shepard’s Parenthood to see the dramatic range he normally suppresses for his "goofy" movie roles. If you're a motorcycle enthusiast, look up the specific specs of the Ducati Hypermotard 939 and the BMW R1200RT used in the film—the production team did a lot of custom work to make those bikes movie-ready.