“Fight or Flight” follows a mercenary who takes on the job of tracking a high-value asset on an international flight. Realizing the plane is filled with assassins, the pair must work together in a fight for their lives.

Fast and Furious from Takeoff

“Fight or Flight” wastes no time diving into the story. The film provides minimal character introductions or background. This allows it to be action-heavy from the start.

Josh Hartnett shines as Lucas Reyes, captivating with his charm despite the limited information revealed about his character. His exceptional performance kept me engaged with Reyes as an individual. In virtually every aspect, Hartnett excels.

Humor and Chaos on Board

While other films spend bits and pieces having fun, “Fight or Flight” never takes itself too seriously. Jokes are spread consistently throughout the quick 101-minute runtime. In the final act especially, the film takes the silly meter up to 10 with absurdly hilarious scenarios. In a film that could’ve become repetitive, “Fight or Flight” found ways to surprise.

The movie also makes the most of its setting. Shooting in tight corridors, handheld camerawork aids most of the fight sequences. This creates a very immersive atmosphere, as the shot twists and turns with the action. Many of the weapons used also come from the plane itself.

A Rocky Landing

“Fight or Flight” is inconsistent in its conclusion. This is in part due to the lack of character development, as it almost feels like the audience is missing context. The film attempts to end on a more emotional note, which doesn’t fit the rest of the flick.

The movie shifts between Hartnett’s plane shenanigans and on-the-ground discussions between Katee Sackhoff (Katherine Brunt) and Julian Kostov (Aaron Hunter). Sackhoff and Kostov exist solely for exposition purposes. The pacing drags at times because of this, and as extended dialogue sequences go on, I found myself wanting to get back to the fun stuff.

Still, “Fight or Flight” knows what type of movie it is. It’s not worried about fleshed-out characters. Instead, it focuses on ripping the flesh out of them in hilarious ways. Hartnett is at the top of his game, delivering pure B-movie fun. Turn your brain off, and you’ll enjoy “Fight or Flight” for what it is.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5