JEANNE’S REVIEW

THE RUNNING MAN, directed by Edgar Wright, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Michael Bacall, is the second adaptation of Stephen King’s 1982 novel of the same name. In a dystopian future, the masses are entertained by a game show called The Running Man, which involves various levels of murder and mayhem.

Ben Richards (Glen Powell) has seen his life implode because of his unwillingness to go along with the corporate greed which is killing his fellow employees. After speaking out against heinous working conditions, Ben has lost numerous jobs and cannot find employment.

To fend for his wife, Sheila (Jayme Lawson) and his infant daughter --- and against Sheila’s pleadings --- Ben auditions for the game show and is selected to participate. Contestants on this show must evade bloodthirsty hunters--- and the spying public --- for 30 days to win one billion dollars.

But there are people out there who want Ben to succeed, so the conspiracy surrounding the show and its corruption can be revealed. One such rebel is Elton Parrakis (Michael Cera), whose crazy mother, Victoria (Sandra Dickinson), almost ruins his plan to save Ben from the hunters. Ultimately, Ben has a showdown with Dan Killian (Josh Brolin), the show’s producer.

THE RUNNING MAN is darkly serious, vicious and occasionally funny. Powell is the perfect choice to  play Ben. Yes, he’s very good looking, but he’s also genuinely likeable. He’s the guy you want to have a beer with after playing basketball. And it’s that demeanor which wins over the fans of the game show as they line the streets encouraging him as he escapes every effort to kill him.

It’s a wild ride --- a very entertaining, albeit brutal expose of our human thirst for blood and death. All Ben wants is to get back to Sheila and their baby, a path very unlikely to happen. There are car chases and explosions galore as Ben tries to stay one step ahead of his captors led by Evan McCone (Lee Pace), a former game show contestant.

Colman Domingo has a juicy role as “Bobby T” Thompson, the host of The Running Man show. He plays Bobby T with sheer delight --- and menace. And his wardrobe of glittering tuxedo jackets is incomparable. Brolin makes a terrific villain --- he’s smarmy as hell and gives the current occupant of the White House a run for his money in the amount of lies he tells.

THE RUNNING MAN is strictly mind-numbing enjoyment --- if you like this genre. And, of course, there’s always the Glen Powell factor.

Opinion: Mild See It Now!

DAVID’S REVIEW

THE RUNNING MAN, based on a Stephen King novel, is a futuristic take on the most popular television game show in existence. The premise follows contestants, after being carefully screened by the powers that be, who must avoid capture or even death for specific periods of time. If any of them manage to avoid capture or their demise for a period of 30 days, the prize is one billion dollars. Lower, but still significant, prize amounts are available for daily or weekly survivals.

None of this science fiction nonsense would be feasible to the average viewer without a credible performance by the primary contender. In this case, that would be Glen Powell as Ben Richards, a family man with a wife and infant daughter.

Powell thrives in a very demanding role both physically and emotionally. He handles his portrayal with confidence as he continually rebuffs the network run by Dan Killian (Josh Brolin), the creator of “The Running Man” show.

And he heroically --- and steadfastly --- puts his family above all else, no matter how much money Killian promises.

THE RUNNING MAN is both entertaining and unsettling in that every move by Ben Richards is captured on film and made available for the world to see. And why not? Viewers who submit photos or videos of the most wanted man on Earth can make substantial sums of money.

The movie contains many suggestions of AI happenings, and certainly ICE-type thugs are replicated. Because of Powell’s broad appeal, his character --- who can out- muscle just about anyone in his way --- is someone for whom we can easily root. Otherwise, the movie would be a bust. In addition to Brolin, who portrays Killian as the slick villain, Colman Domingo stands out as Bobby T, the host of The Running Man, watched by millions of eager viewers.

THE RUNNING MAN is truly a whirlwind adventure which allows for the 2-hour plus running time to move quickly. Director Edgar Wright (BABY DRIVER, 2017) spices his film up with some well-staged and exciting sequences, like the car chase featuring Richards and Amelia Williams (Emilia Jones) fleeing from the bad guys. The film is also quite violent, but it’s not gratuitous.