Scott Waugh’s Runner is a wild ride that’s easy to poke fun at. It’s silly, predictable, and completely over-the-top, but despite all its flaws, it’s hard to dislike. The film has its funny moments, but what really catches you off guard is just how violent it gets. There are times when it feels like the movie forgets it’s supposed to be a comedy and turns into a full-blown action flick, with Reacher star, Alan Ritchson right in the middle of all the chaos.
That’s actually one of the film’s strongest points to be honest. Ritchson is absolutely fantastic here; he has the physical presence to carry an action movie, and Runner gives him plenty of chances to show off his skills. He has a likeable quality that makes it easy to go along with the increasingly ridiculous situations the film throws at him. Even when the movie itself is struggling to make sense, Ritchson’s charisma keeps things moving. If he’s really going to be the next big action star, then Runner makes a pretty convincing case for it. The problem is that he deserves better material to work with if he’s ever going to make it into a bona fide action star.
The film follows Hank Malone (Ritchson), a former American soldier now working as a courier in Queensland, Australia. When a routine delivery turns out to be a rare organ needed to save a dying child, Hank and his unlikely partner Ben Bishop (Owen Wilson) find themselves in a race against time, hunted by a ruthless cartel boss (Rodrigo Santoro) who wants the organ for his own dying mother. What follows is a frantic, blood soaked road trip from the airport to the hospital, with the two leads dodging bullets and betrayal at every turn.
Owen Wilson is sadly given very little to work with here. He’s not bad in the film, but it feels like the movie isn’t really interested in using him to his full potential. He’s just kind of there, while Ritchson dominates nearly every scene he’s in.
There are also some pretty silly moments with characters acting like exaggerated stereotypes. This isn’t a film that’s worried about being subtle or realistic. It takes its premise and runs with it, piling on a ton of violence along the way.
The result is an action comedy that’s predictable and silly, but somehow still enjoyable. There’s something about Ritchson’s performance that makes it hard not to get on board with the whole ridiculous thing. He’s clearly having a blast with this kind of role, and that enthusiasm carries a film that doesn’t always have a lot going for it elsewhere. This movie might not be the one that puts him on the map as a bona fide action star, but it’s a solid, entertaining step in that direction.
