Edgar Wright has teamed up with one of Hollywood’s hottest stars in Glen Powell for The
Running Man. This new adaptation of Stephen King’s 1982 novel marks Wright’s latest effort following 2021’s Last Night in Soho.
Set in a dystopian future, this film follows Powell’s Ben Richards as he fights for his daughter Cathy and wife Sheila in the slums of Co-Op City, ruled by the all-knowing Network. Having been blacklisted from employment, Richards turns to the Running Man: a Network-run FreeVee show where runners must escape the Hunters for 30 days to win a billion dollars, a feat none have completed before.
As he flees the Hunters, Ben becomes aware of the revolution forming alongside him. As the working classes are impassioned by his escape, tensions against the Network brew.
Glen Powell matches his usual Hollywood charm with an intense vulnerability that can catch
on fire at a moment’s notice. He goes from lovingly cradling his baby daughter to smashing a clerk’s window, with an awesome ferocity.
It is one of many expert performances in this film, as Colman Domingo was born to play the Master of Ceremonies Bobby T, and Josh Brolin is a dab hand at a faux smile as a corporate overlord. Michael Cera, Emelia Jones and Daniel Ezra among others provide a human element that slowly helps Richards discover who he’s really running for.
Wright’s signature creative action shines in this film, from Cera’s booby trapped house to
Powell kicking ass dressed as a blind nun. The more standard forms of Hollywood violence,
such as a gunfight on an airplane, are choreographed flawlessly. While Wright cannot fully
impart his British charm on this film, the slick fight sequences we are used to from him are
very present here.
The main problem of the film starts from the second act. As we see the terror of the Network, characters begin to fly in and out of proceedings which leaves very little emotional impact from the death, injury or general misfortune of our heroes. Nothing tugs at the heartstrings, nothing had me wishing doom on the network (other than my own prejudice towards corporations). This makes the climax confusing and unsatisfying, although I can only speak for myself.
The tedious ending also comes from the revolutionary side-plot. It is interesting and
adds real depth to the film, but feels mishandled. The Network’s use of propaganda
obviously makes many scenes feel unreliable, and while this feels an effective
representation of its power, it adds to the lack of emotional impact. You don’t trust the film’s reveals as they don’t build tension, just confusion. There feels like a lot of wasted potential in this side-plot.
Overall this film was an okay time. If you are a fan of Edgar Wright, you may be let down.
However, if you’re in the mood for a pure action flick with movie star Glen Powell, you’ll get
exactly what you asked for. Just don’t believe everything you see on FreeVee.
Image Credit – The Movie DB
