Movies are made to entertain. They do not have to be groundbreaking, pieces of Martin Scorcese Cinema to make an hour and a half worth it. Angel Studios new film, ‘Runner,’ absolutely fits that bill. The film is cookie cutter, popcorn action with an apologetically linear plot. ‘Runner’ is the type of film meant for a singular audience and that’s ok. While it breaks no new ground, the film was entertaining for it’s runtime, utilizing Alan Ritchson’s action star prowess and Owen Wilson’s slow, dry comedic charm to their fullest extent.
Hank Malone (Ritchson,) a recovering addict and veteran, runs cargo. Crossing paths with Ben Bishop (Wilson), who has an extremely rare organ with an extremely rare blood-type known as golden blood to deliver to save the life of Ellie (Scarlett Crabtree,) Malone encounters a cartel, in Australia…for some reason, that have their eyes set on Bishop’s cargo. The plot does not take a rocket scientist to figure out. It’s about as linear as it can get. Despite the plot, the cast and crew were able to provide an entertaining two hours that is worthy of at least one viewing.
Nonstop Action
What ‘Runner’ does well, ‘Runner’ does well and that is action. While they main not be the massive action set pieces audiences see in an ‘Avengers’ movie, the pocket sized action is entertaining, hearkening back to the action flicks of the 1990’s. The explosions are huge and the shoot outs are riveting. With this being an Angel film the blood and violence is toned WAY down, but that does not dilute the fun of the film by any means.
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‘Runner’ relies HEAVILY on it’s two leads, Alan Ritchson and Owen Wilson. The rest of the cast is relatively weak, but Ritchson and Wilson, themselves, are captivating, having an engaging and endearing chemistry. While each actor has done much more demanding roles, both Ritchson and Wilson made the most of the direction and script they were given. This film would have been astronomically worse had the casting director cast anyone else.
Peanut Butter & Jelly Plot
As has been mentioned previously, ‘Runner’ breaks absolutely no new ground. The plot is about as straightforward as it can get, bouncing from plot point to plot point in the most predictable medley of action sequences I’ve ever seen. The set pieces were cliche, but entertaining. As has also been mentioned previously, none of this has to be considered an overtly bad thing. Sometimes entertainment is just that: entertainment.
Film as form of media can give off an air of arrogance, striving for each film to be the next greatest piece of cinema. This, inevitably, gets in the way as often times films fly too close to the sun. They try something big and bold, only to be shredded by the studio and subsequently audiences and critics alike. ‘John Carter’ is one of the more infamous examples of hubris. ‘Runner’ settled for a game of checkers as opposed to chess. It tells a palatble, if not cliche, story that provides a solid two hours of entertainment.
Final Thought:
‘Runner’ is pure entertainment. While doing nothing to move the needle forward on the action genre, it provides audiences with an action-packed, two hour escape. The film entertains, driven mostly by solid performances from Alan Ritchson and Owen Wilson. While forgettable, it’ll give audiences the rush of adrenaline they might be looking for.
