What do Arnold Schwarzenegger and Glen Powell have in common? They’ve both played the lead in film adaptations of Richard Bachman’s The Running Man. Bachman was the pen name Stephen King used for the 1982 science fiction novel. Although both Schwarzenegger and Powell play a man named Ben Richards running for his life, the similarities between the two films end there.
What’s The Running Man about?
In a dystopian future, the most popular television show is The Running Man, a violent game where chosen volunteers must evade hunters and survive for thirty days by any means necessary. Winners get a large cash prize, but losing means death. Ben Richards (Glen Powell) is a devoted husband and father who chooses to play the game to earn money for his sick child.
The Running Man review
Glen Powell as Ben Richards | Credits: Paramount Pictures
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Josh Brolin as Dan Killian
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Ben Richards and Dan Killian face off.
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Glen Powell’s rocketing stardom has been astounding. Since appearing as “Hangman” in the highly celebrated Top Gun: Maverick, Powell has starred in a series of successful movies that have cemented his status as a reliable leading man. The Running Man continues that accent, establishing Powell as a certified action hero and proving once again that his charisma and comedic timing are pitch-perfect.
Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Baby Driver) is a distinct filmmaker with a unique cinematic style and a flair for blending action and comedy. His typical fingerprint is largely lacking in The Running Man. It’s an action-packed event, but the action lacks the sharpness and creativity of movies like Hot Fuzz and Baby Driver. Its slightly watered-down execution will likely make it feel more accessible to mainstream audiences, and I suspect the film will be a hit in cinemas. But my expectations, set high from Wright’s earlier outing, coupled with Powell in the lead, were never quite fulfilled.
The movie’s first half is undeniably fantastic. The world is bleak and immersive, the setup is riveting, and each member of the cast brings their A-game. Josh Brolin (No Country for Old Men, Weapons) as Dan Killian, the show’s slimy producer, is dialed in, perfectly capturing the callous and calculated nature of the man behind the deadliest entertainment in America. Colman Domingo is electric as Bobby T, the show’s charismatic host responsible for rallying and pumping up the bloodthirsty crowd.
The performances do much of the heavy lifting, keeping the energy high in a surprisingly tame script. The movie is never bad; it just lacks the spark and uniqueness expected from an Edgar Wright film. Wright’s success as a filmmaker is his own double-edged sword. He’s garnered a reputation, and that reputation comes with a high level of expectation. It’s not necessarily fair, but when we’ve seen what Wright is capable of, The Running Man falls short.
Is The Running Man worth watching?
The Running Man is an ambitious undertaking, and the team-up of Edgar Wright and Glen Powell taking on the dystopian Stephen King story sounds like the recipe for a modern-day action masterpiece. While it’s certainly not that, it is a well-executed movie that serves its purpose of being a fun time at the cinema. Everybody involved is clearly enjoying themselves, and while the performances feel unrestrained, there is a level of restraint in the film’s overall execution. It feels far more traditional than Wright’s usual style, and there don’t seem to be many risks taken. It ultimately makes for an enjoyable, but unsurprising, action outing, and sometimes that’s good enough.
The Running Man Review: A Slick, Star-Fueled Thrill Ride That Never Fully Explodes
Glen Powell and Edgar Wright adapt Stephen King’s dystopian thriller, bringing tons of action and charm to a world of violence and mayhem. It’s a fun outing, but ultimately lacks the spark and awe-inspiring style of Wright’s previous movies.
