Glen Powell marks his transition to bona fide action star status running Mana film filled with pure, unadulterated adrenaline. Taking on the lead role in his first major studio picture, Powell proves that he can carry an entire film, seamlessly transferring energy from scene to scene.
Ben Richards (Powell) is a blue-collar worker full of rage and anger at the world, set in a dystopian America characterized by massive wealth inequality. It is because of this rage that he is often fired from all the positions he has held. When he desperately needs money to care for his sick daughter, he reluctantly becomes a contestant on the country's most popular but deadly game show: The Running Man.
Ben must survive for 30 days while he is hunted across America by professional killers called Hunters. Unlike Paul Michael Glaser's film, which first adapted Stephen King's novel in 1987, the audience is also in on the game, seeking to win the reward for delivering it. If Ben lives 30 days, he will win $1 billion, a feat no one has ever accomplished. It's no surprise that show producer Dan Killian (Josh Brolin) rigs the game, and Ben's only hope is to outsmart the entire system, win, and return to his family.
Director Edgar Wrightthe film serves as a showcase for Powell, who does his own stunts, hangs from almost anything and still looks good (including a scene wrapped in only a towel that ends up falling) – daring. It's easy to see why Powell has been called the Tom Cruise of this generation. It's not an easy task, but Powell constantly pumps up the energy, making sure the audience enjoys the spectacle as Wright weaves the film together with massive set pieces. For fans of Glaser's film, Wright's film includes a couple of Easter eggs and a reference to the Arnold Schwarzenegger-led film, providing some genuine laughs.
While Powell takes center stage in the film, Wright gives each of the supporting actors ample opportunity to own the screen and create their characters in their own way. Colman Domingo lights up the screen as the show's flamboyant host, bringing a charismatic intensity to the proceedings, while Brolin provides the perfect foil for Ben's desperate escape. Lee Pace is absolutely brilliant, although since he wears a mask for almost the entire film, we don't get to fully enjoy his natural screen presence. Although Katie O'Brien stands out from the rest, the film underutilizes her and doesn't fully exploit her potential.
running Man thrives as a popcorn movie made to be seen on the biggest screen. Wright delivers a fun and immersive viewing experience, making viewers feel like we're actually in the arena watching a live, deadly game show unfold. The film maintains tension as the Hunters pursue Ben, who is constantly forced to invent new and desperate ways to survive. However, the film has its flaws: it lacks direction at times and stumbles in the second act. Notably, the ending feels a bit rushed and disappointing.
While it may not be Wright's best film, it is still peppered with the director's signature elements, such as a killer soundtrack that drives the action and propels the story forward with an infectious rhythm, and Powell certainly puts on a furious show.
