By Keith Walther | Rose Law Group Reporter
Like running on an inclined treadmill, this movie is a futile exercise of tedium that goes nowhere fast. “The Running Man” is an adaptation of Stephen King’s novel and a remake of the 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger classic of the same name. It may have plenty of action sequences, but the simplistic storyline and paper-thin characters make them feel hollow.
Unable to find employment and afford the medication for his sick daughter, Ben Richards (Glen Powell) turns to the one reality television show that could make his family never go without again, “The Running Man.” If he survives the full 30 days, then he gets to rejoin his family as a billionaire. However, the show’s producer, Dan Killian (Josh Brolin), will use anything at his disposal to help his gang of hunters led by Major McCone (Lee Pace) to track down and kill Richards on live TV. Fueled by the propaganda spewed by host Bobby T (Colman Domingo), it appears all of America is intent on seeing him murdered.
Edgar Wright is credited with directing this film, but his unique blend of comedy and action is noticeably absent. The renowned English filmmaker of iconic films like “Shaun of the Dead” and “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” uses a very basic paint-by-numbers approach to craft a run of the mill action romp. He implements a very straightforward approach of building empathy for the protagonist by having him be a pinnacle of chivalry, potentially sacrificing his own life to save his child’s. From there, Edgar uses the character’s love for his family in typical fashion, to fuel his desire to survive as well as leverage against him to keep him in line. And whenever Edgar attempts to infuse this very generic production with satirical humor, it fails miserably with jokes that never land, which only confuse the tone of the film.
Wright does offer a different take from the 1987 film by using an open world concept rather than the confined playing board of its predecessor. This allows for more expansive exploration in addition to greater dangers from everywhere, but it also opens the door for plot holes and absurd character decision making. For instance, it makes no sense why everyone in the world doesn’t attack the main character to claim the promised bounty. Edgar also exclusively uses digital cameras for the first time in his films, which makes sense considering the sci-fi dystopian nature of the setting. However, the cinematography is chaotic with very little fluidity, constantly jumping from one source to another that becomes distracting and disorienting. There’s even a confusing sequence that jumps from a side character being tortured to the main character waking up from a nightmare of the hunters closing in on him that makes the whole thing seem like a dream sequence.
Edgar Wright’s decision to cast Glen Powell as the lead is a faulty one as well. Powell simply does not have the natural charisma and screen presence to be an action star that Arnold Schwarzenegger had in spades. His performance is bland with no real compelling draw to his scenes. He tries to incorporate a quick temper to give an edginess to his character, but it is unconvincing and feels more like a gimmick than an inherent trait.
Despite a supporting cast that consists of highly talented actors like Josh Brolin, Colman Domingo, William H. Macy, and Michael Cera, their characters are all one dimensional and poorly used. Brolin is the typical villainous studio head who cares more about ratings than anything else. Domingo plays the flamboyantly verbose TV show host who narrates in dramatic fashion. Macy plays a friend to the protagonist, but his inclusion has no real backstory to speak of and a weakly contrived connection to the main character. The same can be said for Cera’s character, whose actions completely contradict his own motivations, simply to set up another pointless action scene.
This is an adaptation devoid of style and substance that pales in comparison to the 1987 original, and will make you yearn for the over-the-top costumes, the cheesy yet funny one-liners by Schwarzenegger, and the 80’s style action that made that film so memorable. While “The Running Man” attempts to appease fans with cute little references like Arnie’s image being shown on the currency, it is nothing more than a shell of its former self that will be forgotten in a week. Not even the bountiful number of explosions and gunfire can trick your body to produce that coveted adrenaline.
This movie earns:
