The Running Man

This weekend, The Running Man, Edgar Wright's newest film, was released in theaters. The Running is an adaptation of a Stephen King novel about a man who joins a game show where contestants have 30 days to survive being pursued by hunters trying to kill them. Edgar Wright is one of my favorite directors, so I was very excited to see his newest film. For some perspective, I have not seen the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie, nor have I read the book.

This movie was so much fun. The Running Man brings the big blockbuster spectacle and scale that Edgar Wright deserves. I thought that the basic premise of the movie was really interesting. I liked the whole dystopian vibe of the setting. The movie does a great job of building out this world with a huge divide between the Network that owns everything and the working-class people. It shows how the different people in this class cope with their hardship, from turning in the people on The Running Man to get a little extra cash to actively revolting against the government. I thought Glen Powell was great in this movie. His performance further cements him as a leading man and proves that he can carry these high-spectacle blockbuster movies. As with other Edgar Wright films, The Running Man has very high energy and a rocking soundtrack. I thought the song Underdog was a perfect fit to be the backbone of the film. The Running Man is pretty much nonstop thrills from beginning to end, with no dull moments and a 135-minute runtime that just flies by. The movie also has some solid and very well-shot action sequences. I thought the chase through the rundown apartments, where the camera follows Glen Powell, was very well done, but every action sequence was very unique and a lot of fun. Finally, I liked how simple the story was. It doesn't get bogged down with any strong messaging or a convoluted plot. It is a very easy-to-follow story and one that keeps you engaged from beginning to end.

The only issue I had, and I wouldn't consider it a real issue, is that this is the most restrained of Edgar Wright's films. The Running doesn't have that Edgar Wright humor or edge that the other films do, and in some ways feels like it could have been directed by anyone. Even so, a more restrained Edgar Wright movie is still a very good movie.

Overall, this was a very fun dystopian action movie with a perfect tone, energy, and soundtrack. While it is more restrained than Edgar Wright's other films, it is still a great movie and one of my favorites of the year.

Score: 8.5/10 Grade: A- Recommendation: This is a must-see movie