The title says it. And it’s not lying.

“Send Help” follows a woman and her overbearing boss who become stranded on a deserted island after a plane crash.

A Killer Setup

The film features an intriguing start. It perfectly sets the stage for a corporate “boss versus employee” dynamic that many will relate to in some way. It’s an exaggerated look – sure. But in the opening 10 minutes alone, the movie gives the audience reason to support, cringe at and despise both lead characters.

Rachel McAdams (Linda) and Dylan O’Brien (Bradley) fully commit to the lead roles.

This is McAdams’ movie in every way. She perfectly portrays the frustrated everyday worker, with both an awkward and rageful twist. She’s emotional in moments, laugh-out-loud hilarious in others and even scary at times. McAdams balances these dynamics well to make the character feel whole.

O’Brien is impressive as well. He’s immediately arrogant and cocky, excelling at making his character unbearable in all the right ways.

After the snappy introduction, the characters experience a classic role reversal once they’re stranded. This switch-up adds an abundance of comedy to the film. “Send Help” utilizes throwaway gags, recurring jokes and smart character quips to generate laughs again and again.

Too Many Tones, Not Enough Focus

Despite the committed performances and successful humor, “Send Help” can be a chore to get through.

It’s a film with infinite potential that can’t seem to satisfy its endless cravings for more. Because of this, “Send Help” is all over the place. One second boar heads are being tossed around and the next characters are discussing their life traumas. On top of this, it attempts to genre-blend action, comedy, drama, thriller and horror.

This causes it to be tonally inconsistent.

“Send Help” also falls into a rinse-and-repeat format that quickly grows tiring. After the initial buzz wears off, it becomes obvious that the film isn’t looking to reinvent the wheel.

At 113 minutes, this structure causes the runtime to drag.

Raimi Flair in the Home Stretch

The final act of “Send Help” makes up for some of its shortcomings. It throws in a few surprises that build off earlier plot developments. The problem? It takes way too long to get there.

The film does boast impressive effects, with lots of blood to go around. Director Sam Raimi’s visual style is all over “Send Help,” and it shows. Using gore and violence doesn’t always need to be scary – and Raimi masterfully blends horror for both comedy and thrills.

“Send Help” may not have viewers calling for help. But it’s nothing more than average. There’s some fun to be had within a stale overall experience.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5