Stylish, though it stumbles
Film critic Jason Evans is here to tell you everything you need to know about movies in less time than it takes to toss a hand grenade. His reviews are exactly 100 words long (99 is too short while 101 is just excessive). Here is his 100-word review of The Running Man.
The Premise: Filmmaker Edgar Wright (Scott Pilgrim vs. the
World, Baby Driver, Sean of the Dead) revisits the classic Stephen King novel
that was famously made into a 1980s Arnold Schwarzenegger film. Ben Richards
(Glen Powell of Top Gun: Maverick & Twisters) is a kind-hearted, hard-working
dad with anger issues. He just wants to take care of his sick daughter and
wife, but constantly finds himself on the wrong side of unfair situations that
leave him without a job. Ben goes to try out for a series of game shows in the
hopes of winning some money and gets picked for the most popular show around,
The Running Man. Ben can earn more than enough to take care of his family… if
he can survive being hunted down by a pack of professional assassins. Unlike
the 1987 film, Ben isn’t in an arena, he is out amongst the masses… who have
all been told the report if they see him so they too can win prizes. The film
also stars Josh Brolin as a ruthless TV producer, Colman Domingo as the host
of The Running Man, and Williams H. Macy and Michael Cera as two regular
civilians who help Ben along the way.
The 100-Words: Wright’s eye for great action moments and stylish
camera work are on full display in this likeable flick. The first two-thirds
are propulsive and filled with doses of humor. Powell looks great and continues
to prove he is a go-to action star. Sadly, the premise and logic really begin
to fall apart in the final third. Some of the storytelling decisions took me
out of the film and left me more puzzled than captivated. This isn’t a bad
movie, but it ends weakly enough so that you leave the theater with a bit of a
bad taste in your mouth.
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