IR Film Review: THE RUNNING MAN [Paramount]

The initial concept of "The Running Man" has a dexterity of vision. When the original with Arnold Schwarzenegger was made, it was a 80s action movie built in a certain essence of cheese and Cannon film fodder which in itself is its own art form. The new "Running Man" starring Glen Powell and directed by Edgar Wright has good intentions but it never quite gets to its break point despite some interesting sequences. "Baby Driver" would have seemed to have been the good blueprint for something like this. That had just the right amount of edge and old school power. Anson Elgort understood his role and played to it. Glen Powell tries to do the same thing but at times he seems to be mugging for the camera. The reality is that is what the film is about but it doesn't translate as well in the current time period versus 1988. The one that really seems to get it but we only see a certain aspect of him chewing up the furniture is Josh Brolin as the show's producer. Colman Domingo as Bobby T, the host of the show seems to be having the most fun here but there is a certain bravado missing at times. The perspective is a little too tongue-in-cheek. A whole sequence later on in the film on the road simply doesn't feel like it is bringing together stakes in any meaningful way. Like with "Last Night At Soho", Wright has a good idea of his concept but doesn't quite bring it to fruition. The only person who seems to really really get it is Katy O'Brian (who was the best thing about "Love Lies Bleeding") as Laughlin since her stunts and bravado really brings it to bear.

Powell's Ben Richards goes between being very concerned with his family to just completed pissed off with the world. The problem is that it doesn't really seem earned and there is not as much in between. Two really good cameos (per se) had potential. One goes the distance (Michael Cera) while the other doesn't (William H. Macy). It would have been nice if Macy was given more to do and not become just a plot point. Cera on the other hand as a revolutionary living with his elderly but out-of-control mom is perfect though one wishes he had more deliberate consequence in the story. Emilia Jones (last seen in "Task") really has a thankless job in terms of her role with not much in the way in character development beyond to make a point about the company. Lee Pace as an assassin had possibility and his back story is interesting but it becomes a personification actually of two little too late. The structure initially of how Ben survives makes sense but Wright (see "Scott Pilgrim") could have done some really insane visual elements and done some better needle drops (while keeping the indie structure). The resolution overall too is a little too limp despite its need to show testosterone. The better tone it could have gone for is akin to what the first "Joker" did...but as the audience member, the character of Ben Richards (unlike say Powell's character in "Anyone But You") just doesn't go the distance. The stakes are high in his mind but you don't feel that. "The Running Man" had potential but never quite hits the finish line. C

By Tim Wassberg