Alan Ritchson is best known as “Reacher” on the Prime Video TV series, as well as recent action films “War Machine”, “Fast X” and “Motor City”. He was also Raphael in the Michael Bay-produced 2010s “Ninja Turtles” movies — and co-starred alongside two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank in emotional, faith-based, true story family drama “Ordinary Angels”. There’s a blend of all of Ritchson’s past projects in his latest flick: “Runner”.
Ritchson plays Hank Malone, a delivery man who, on this particular day in Brisbane, Australia, must pick-up courier Bishop (Owen Wilson) and transport him and his package (a liver for a sick child) to a hospital. But it won’t be easy because the cartel is after the organ. It’s a Liam Neeson-y premise. (And Bruce Willis or Arnold Schwarzenegger might’ve done this back in the day.) Ritchson’s the tough guy in the driver’s seat with a special set of skills, flying through traffic and dodging other cars with incredible precision. Wilson’s the chatty, three-times divorced, fish out of water sidekick along for the ride. Their dynamic is just one of the film’s fascinating elements.
“Runner” is engaging enough to stick with because of these actors and the truly wacky directions the story goes in. There are some laugh-out-loud funny moments. After he sees Ritchson crash through a building to rescue him, Wilson declares, “That’s My Ride!” But there are also legitimately dramatic and sad aspects. Definitely an uneven tone.
And then we get to the third act, which is so implausible (some absolutely insane scenes that had me shaking my head) and also quite violent. Considering the number of deaths (shown on-camera and implied) and the amount of child peril, “Runner” should be rated R instead of PG-13. There are minor faith elements, including a rare bird called “Spirit” that’s part of the journey for a while, but otherwise this is really outside Angel Studios’ wheelhouse.
“Runner” is a ’90s throwback popcorn flick that at times gives off guilty pleasure vibes but isn’t of the highest quality. Never dull but not sophisticated or logical enough for a true recommendation.
LCJ GRADE: C
Running Time: 97 min.