Arnie gave us a classic in 1987, The Running Man, but Arnold Schwarzenegger never felt like the ‘everyman’ fighting against the big corporation for the betterment of everyone. He was fighting and running for revenge after being falsely imprisoned, but this Ben Richards is running for his family, until he is made the face of a brewing revolution against his will.?
I know which version I prefer……sorry, Arnie, not this time.
Glen Powell is on fire in Hollywood at the moment, and there is a very good chance that he is going to fill a growing hole. There are no real ‘stars’ in the current generation, like Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt or others of their ilk, but Powell has a real shot at becoming that level of star. This is going to cement his base? and give him a huge boost.
As Ben Richards, Powell is just a guy trying to make his life better, only to find himself spiralling into an anger tornado the more and more he is hunted and lied about. His performance is fantastic, and he nails the character perfectly.
The Running Man has a pretty star-studded cast, including Coleman Domingo, Josh Brolin, Lee Pace, Michael Cera, Jayme Lawson, Katy M. O’Brien and Emilia Jones, and not one of them feels out of place. They all fill their roles wonderfully, but Domingo and Brolin chew the scenery with panache and flair…..I didn’t even mind Michael Cera, and I’m not normally a fan.
Overall? Edgar Wright has given us another banger that I can easily see myself going back to see a few times when it comes out properly. It’s not quite flawless, but it’s still getting a 4.5/5 for making me have a goddamn amazing time in the cinema.
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