Movie Review - The Running Man
I'm a sucker for movies that attempt social commentary, especially about corporate corruption and media manipulation. For that, I give the movie an A for effort. However, it gets a C for execution because of the muddled message. I'll average that out to a solid B result. I think this script was two or three rewrites away from being really good.
Casting
I like the casting choices, especially Glen Powell as Ben Richards. I think the actor has more range than the script demands on him, but that's not his fault. Josh Brolin was perfect in his role as Dan Killian. He was a believable asshole, exactly as he needed to be. And then some of the casting felt odd, like Lee Pace was completely wasted in this movie and Michael Cera was an odd choice. But then William H. Macy's cameo as Molie was well done. But then, William H. Macy is pretty excellent at everything he does.
Social Commentary
I'm trying to figure out why this movie didn't really land for me, since it's typically a genre I appreciate. The best I can come up with is that the world-building doesn't feel fleshed out. It's pretty much a first-person POV, though most of the movie. We see only very little from other characters' POV. I think the message could have been stronger had they pulled back on a few of the long action scenes and used that time to develop other characters and explore more of the world. The movie has a runtime of about 2h 8min, without the credits. That's enough time to develop the main character and the world-building.
Grade: B-
| Rated: | (R) Some Gore | Language | Strong Violence |
| Genres: | Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller |
| USA release date: | 2025-11-11 |
| Movie length: | 133 minutes |
| Starring: | Glen Powell, Josh Brolin, Michael Cera, Colman Domingo, Lee Pace |
| Director: | Edgar Wright |
| Writer(s): | Michael Bacall, Edgar Wright |
| Language: | en |
| Country: | US |
Plot
Desperate to save his sick daughter, working-class Ben Richards is convinced by The Running Man's charming but ruthless producer to enter the deadly competition game as a last resort. But Ben's defiance, instincts, and grit turn him into an unexpected fan favorite - and a threat to the entire system. As ratings skyrocket, so does the danger, and Ben must outwit not just the Hunters, but a nation addicted to watching him fall.
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