The Running Man (2025)
PRAISE: I will always have a fondness for the 1987 film of the same name starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. I stop and watch it anytime I'm scrolling through the channels. But in this version Director Edgar Wright and co Writer Michael Bacall decide to embrace the book version written by Stephen King. Glen Powell as Ben Richards displays enough charm and anger to make it believable that he would sign up for any of the risk your life game shows set in a dystopian future, oh and the fact that his family really needs the money. I did like some of the characters and they had enjoy them while you can moments. I did laugh at the running gag reality show moments,and who it makes fun of and who portrayed the reality stars. The movie has some very good action sequences when it really felt like I was watching The Running Man. I didn't mind that a good amount of social commentary that was woven into the story. One of the kills was very entertaining to watch. A couple of the cameos in the movie were fun.
PROBLEMS: I bet Josh Brolin filmed ninety percent of his scenes at home.A couple of situations didn't add up for me. There are several non sensical moments. I wondered if the a couple of contestants in the "game" actually forget what they were supposed to be doing. Its as if they never heard of stealth or incognito. I could understand this if a couple of characters had more development and arrogance, and ignorance were part of their mindsets but it didn't make any sense at all including the taunting....Ugh !! For all of the embracing of the novel the movie still couldn't stick the landing and I wonder if a thumbs down at test screenings was the cause of it.
Scale of 1 to 10 a 6
Thank you great review as always. I didn't think this was so bad. critics were killing it. It was fine to me, the 3rd act didn't bother me as much as everyone else. Maybe because my expectations were not so high? I don't think in the current climate you could ever do the book on screen, And this is as close as I think you can get from a modern studio. The modern audience will NEVER accept that original ending. It looked good held my interest it was fun. The illogical parts were standard fare. The audience I was with had fun. This thing had more plot holes like Swiss cheese and logic dumps galore. But the overall message I thought was fine. I DID think Wright would make this more....Edgar Wright. I'd give it more than a 6 but every single one of your points was SPOT ON.
