The Running Man Review - Solid action flick lacks usual Edgar Wright flair

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"All systems are corrupt. All governments and all laws exist to benefit those in power." - D.D. Webb

Some filmmakers alone are worth the price of admission. Tarantino? I don’t even need to hear the title. Just save me a seat and I’ll be there. Scorsese, Fincher, you already know. Edgar Wright is the kind of filmmaker that could make a movie about a subject I have zero interest in but with him at the helm I’d be there opening day. He has a voice that speaks through his work. He is known for his distinctive editing style featuring creative transitions and quick cuts. He loves to combine unexpected genres together, often incorporating whip-smart humor spoken by complex, morally sympathetic characters with a heavy focus on plot and character development. And even with his more comedic-forward efforts like the Cornetto Trilogy (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, The World’s End), he still includes sentimentality and emotional depth. 

His films are highly self-aware acting with subverted expectations and repeated acknowledgement and inclusion of pop culture and music. There is no more prevalent example of this than his 2017 instant classic, Baby Driver. He picked the music first, designing the action sequences to match. The music dictated the sequences as well as the sound design including synchronized effects like car doors, gun shots, and sirens structured to match the rhythm of the music creating a noticeable kind of synergy of musical sound effects. You can practically bob your head to the sound of gunfire and as a man from the UK, that’s awfully ‘Murrican of you, Mr. Wright. 

His last film, Last Night in Soho, is spectacularly unique with tremendous characters and one hell of a twist. It was a great example of his abilities as a filmmaker deciding to leave what might be considered his comfort zone for something a bit more daring. Rather than genre bending like comedy with horror or comedy with action, he set aside the humor for much darker, deeper waters with themes of murder, abuse, and exploitation. Definitely his most pessimistic and cynical effort to date. I bring this up because as different as this is from his previous works, it still felt like a Wright film. It had a unique, identifiable voice filled with energy and subversion. There’s a confidence in the road less traveled approach that it navigates which he has become famous for. It’s one of the best things about seeing his movies, the unexpected combined with a beautiful familiarity in the references, music, and homages littered throughout his movies. He’s an expert in giving the audience what they want and better yet what they don’t even know they need or want which is such a thrill to discover. 

I think perhaps this is where The Running Man falls short of something brilliant or memorable. I want to stress, this is not a bad movie. Not by a long shot. It’s quite fun; it provides his familiar wit, his fast paced editing and unique characters. Despite it being a Stephen King story, Wright injects his influences into it. But I’m not so sure his voice shows through enough to live up to the likes of the Cornetto trilogy or Baby Driver and especially not Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. If this were almost any other director this might be a better than expected actioner. In Wright’s hands though it feels less than what I had potentially unrealistic expectations for. It rarely, if at all, rises above decent into what I wanted, which was another homerun by the UK native. 

This is the most studio movie he has ever produced. There’s a generic hindrance to it with some shots without any kind of panache to them. It can feel a bit ugly at times. This was a movie I wanted to love. I wanted it in my top ten of the year and maybe that’s on me for expecting so much more. I was rooting for this movie and while I still very much enjoyed my time with it, it left me less than inspired. 

Its strengths? Glen Powell for starters. He’s pitch perfect as Ben Richards, The Running Man’s angriest contestant ever. And that’s ironically where his charm shines most, when he’s passive aggressively becoming more and more literally aggressive and surprisingly violent. There’s a liveliness to his performances and it comes out when he’s genuinely pissed off. And this is a story of the haves manipulating the have-nots so you can imagine the animosity. He does the action well, clearly influenced by his mentor, Tom Cruise. His delivery is snarky, tenacious, and brimming with fervor. He’s the best part of the movie. 

The rest of the cast feels wasted. After Sing Sing, I’ve been dying to see Colman Domingo in anything. He’s got extremely limited screen time here and it’s such a shame for him to be relegated to glorified extra. He’s great as expected in the moments he’s given but too few and far between. The same can be said for Josh Brolin who gets more screen time than Domingo but often behind a desk, he doesn’t do a whole lot. He’s meant to be a catalyst for Powell’s anger, sparking his ultimate desire which is to destroy everything Brolin’s character has built. And he does this but it can feel superficial in its severity. For every season of The Running Man there are five hunters and they can often feel insignificant. They do not have a presence about them that suggests a true threat. Almost like characters without names or even lines. 

Michael Cera makes a memorable appearance but he’s gone before you know it. He matters right up until he doesn't. His exit arrives fast and unceremoniously. He’s good but like much of the cast, he’s underutilized. 

As for the action, there isn’t much to say here. It’s passable without ever becoming memorable. It’s a perfectly serviceable action flick with glimmers of that genius we’ve come to expect from Wright. I enjoyed the movie but I wanted to remember it. In a week’s time, I’ll be able to tell you I saw it. I might be able to recall a few key scenes but it’s often a blur of perfectly fine when in its place I so badly wanted brilliance. For many others in the director’s chair, this would be a pretty damn good movie. From Wright, I expected a whole hell of a lot more. The Running Man is fun enough, fast enough, action packed enough to be good enough. I don’t think I’m alone in wanting something better than just enough.

Rated R For: strong violence, some gore, and language

Runtime: 133 minutes

After Credits Scene: No

Genre: Action, Thriller, Sci-Fi

Starring: Glen Powell, Colman Domingo, Josh Brolin, Lee Pace

Directed By: Edgar Wright

Out of 10

Story: 8/ Acting: 8.5/ Directing: 8/ Visuals: 7

OVERALL: 7.5/10

Buy to Own: Yes.

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Check out the trailer below: