“The Running Man” follows Ben Richards, a man who enters a deadly competition where contestants must survive 30 days while being hunted by professional assassins.

Fully Realized World-Building

World-building is key for a movie like this, and “The Running Man” succeeds early on. It gives real stakes to the central character’s mission while also building the world around him. Because of this, the film feels fully fleshed out despite not being as timely as it sometimes aims to be.

“The Running Man” makes strides to be a timely story about a world that isn’t built for the everyday individual. It discusses corporate greed and wealth inequality alongside other social critiques. This approach is more faithful to Stephen King’s 1982 novel. Despite this, these themes are often left behind for the action-packed fun. The movie goes back and forth in deciding its purpose, resulting in an up-and-down viewing experience.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing – it just means “The Running Man” won’t be a movie for those seeking something deeper.

Tone Swings and Thematic Inconsistency

The movie’s tone falters because of this as well. It tries to be funny, heartfelt and meaningful… and this doesn’t always work. More often than not, “The Running Man” tries to do too many things at once.

By the time the film reaches its conclusion, many of these themes feel forced. What starts as a movie about the everyday man turns into a much larger movement. While this shift mirrors parts of our current society, it doesn’t translate well into the story.

Still, the early development efforts are worth applauding. While the emphasis is ultimately on fun, the film still gives the characters time to breathe beforehand.

For those seeking a similar film that nails both the emotional and comedic beats – minus the action – look at “Self Reliance.”

Standout Performances From Ensemble Cast

The simplest way to describe “The Running Man” is fun. You don’t need to think too much. There isn’t a lot to take away. It’s entertaining from start to finish.

By nature, the film is uneven in its pacing. Large stretches are full of sitting and waiting, which leads to moments of boredom. For a movie that relies on star power and overblown thrills, there are too many of these lulls.

With a 133-minute runtime, “The Running Man” is too long. Especially in the second half, many of the pit stops and stakes get dragged out. This plays into the pacing issues.

Glen Powell is the “everyday man” who is easy to root for. He brings his usual charm to the screen while also having a physicality and ferociousness that work well in the role. It’s Powell’s typical character – and if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it, because he’s very good at it.

It isn’t just Powell. “The Running Man” also includes Josh Brolin (Dan Killian), Colman Domingo (Bobby Thompson) and Michael Cera (Bradley Throckmorton).

There is such a thing as too much of a good thing, however. Because of its stacked cast, the movie sometimes feels like it’s stopping at different checkpoints to show off these actors.

On a technical level, “The Running Man” sticks the landing with immersive action, constantly moving cinematography and an exhilarating score. Director Edgar Wright’s style seeps into every scene, bringing this version of the story to life.

“The Running Man” is an energetic adaptation that blends fun action with social commentary. These two elements don’t always match, resulting in a film that is both entertaining and frustrating. There’s lots to love. There’s also much left to be desired.

Rating: 3 out of 5