‘Runner’ reminds us there will always be a place for old-school action movies
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There was a stretch where action movies knew exactly what they wanted to be.
A hero had a job to do. There was a clock ticking somewhere. Bad guys kept getting in the way. Somebody delivered a few one-liners, things exploded at the appropriate times, and everyone, or almost everyone, went home happy.
I miss the days of “True Lies,” “Speed,” and “Lethal Weapon.”
While I don’t think “Runner” will be remembered along with those action juggernauts, it does feel like it came from that school of filmmaking.
No, it’s not as good as the classics that inspired it. The story leaves behind more than a few plot holes, and if you spend too much time thinking about the logistics, you’ll probably have questions. You better have questions. But while I was sitting in the theater I didn’t care. I was having too much fun.
That may sound like a low bar, but lately it feels like every action movie has to save the world or spend half its runtime setting up the sequel. “Runner” keeps things much simpler, and I appreciated that.
A race against the clock
Alan Ritchson stars as Hank Malone, a former Navy SEAL trying to deliver a liver to a children’s hospital before time runs out. Unfortunately for him, a group of determined criminals has other plans.
That’s really all you need to know.
The story isn’t trying to reinvent the action genre. It’s simply trying to keep you invested in whether Hank can get from Point A to Point B before someone stops him. Oh, and Owen Wilson is along for the ride for good measure.
Alan Ritchson was born for this
If you’ve watched “Reacher,” you already know what Ritchson brings to the table.
He’s enormous.
The movie leans into that fact every chance it gets. Hank absorbs punishment that would sideline most action heroes and dishes out enough of his own to leave walls, furniture, and probably a few insurance adjusters in rough shape.
Realistic? Not at all. Entertaining? For sure.
“Runner” movie gives him just enough emotional weight that the action actually means something. There are moments that caught me a little off guard because I found myself caring more than I expected to.
Owen Wilson does what Owen Wilson does
The movie’s secret weapon is Owen Wilson.
His character probably has the least backstory of anyone in the film, but it didn’t matter. Wilson has spent decades mastering a certain kind of easygoing charm, and he’s still remarkably good at it.
His chemistry with Ritchson keeps the movie moving whenever the script starts showing its seams. They’re an odd pairing on paper, but together they bring enough personality that I was willing to forgive some pretty glaring story issues.
Worth the price?
“Runner” isn’t going to win any Academy Awards or likely be remembered alongside the action greats, but I wasn’t expecting any of that. All the movie is trying to do is give audiences 97 minutes of exciting action, a few laughs, and just enough heart to make you care how everything turns out.
Nailed it.
Not every Friday night calls for an emotional drama or an awards contender. Sometimes you just want to buy some popcorn, watch a charismatic action star throw bad guys through walls, and leave the theater smiling.
If that’s what you’re looking for this weekend, then I have some good news; “Runner” is now playing.