A Race Against Time and Implausibility

Brawny actor Alan Ritchson plays a former military man in the new action movie “Runner,” a type of character he physically resembles and often represents in screen media, despite having never served. His father, though, was a chief master sergeant in the U.S. Air Force so one might argue that he knows a thing or two about military life. In his latest film, the character’s armed forces background is shorthand for the type of person who can fight fiercely but stoically, someone who can dispatch a dozen bad guys in mere seconds while emerging relatively unscathed.Mr. Ritchson plays Hank Malone, a vet living in Brisbane, Australia. Lest we think the feature is about a sprinter, like the recent streaming movie “The Runner” starring Gal Gadot, text at the start clarifies that the filmmakers mean to refer to a courier, a person who transports items and occasionally people from one place to another, which we see Hank do early on. The on-screen definition also notes that runners sometimes carry “illegal” goods, suggesting the character will traverse some murky moral ground, though this theme is never properly explored. The action begins in earnest with the arrival of Ben Bishop (Owen Wilson), a fellow American bringing a liver for a little girl in need of a transplant. As soon as Ben enters Hank’s vehicle, a criminal cartel attempts to impede the delivery of the precious organ to a Gold Coast hospital about 50 miles away. Predictably, with the appearance of Mr. Wilson, the humor also goes into high gear, as the film is a comedy as well at times. Still, while action comedy is the stated genre, the film’s emotionally manipulative plotline and tragic twists signify an old-fashioned melodrama, complete with a teary ending. Indeed, the filmmakers are so shameless in the milking of the scenario for every last drop of sentiment and dramatic coincidence that one eventually stops fighting it. Given the presence of the likable, muscular star Mr. Ritchson, who also produced, it’s a wise decision to just give in.Initially, the organ thieves chase Hank and Ben as they drive to the hospital, causing them to detour and delay. This delay ratchets up the tension as the viability of the organ, despite being sealed in a temperature-controlled, password-accessed container, is naturally time-sensitive. But director Scott Waugh and screenwriters Miles Hubley and Tommy White, don’t stop there; they also cut to the mother of the ailing child as she pressures hospital staff for updates, causing friction and suspicion between them, and later have the girl experience some sort of medical emergency. All this urgency and anxiety reflect the almost exquisite, but ultimately rather blatant, exploitation of viewer sympathy and sensational storytelling. Mr. Waugh, a seasoned action director and son of a former stuntman, truly excels at handling the fight scenes and car chases. Although very violent and bloody, these set pieces are well-framed and -staged, effectively edited, and even clever at times. What’s troubling about some of these scenes — what our hero doesn’t seem to worry himself about — is how bystanders are often placed in danger. By resisting the criminals, Hank decides that the life of one person justifies the deaths and near-deaths of hundreds of others, including other kids. It’s the modus operandi of many an action film — and it always sticks in my craw. Impeding crime is a fundamental principle of a functional, peaceable society, yet Hank is not an officer of the law, despite his military background. To solidify empathy for the character and justification for his actions, the filmmakers assign him a past correlating with the story’s central impetus, once again demonstrating the filmmakers’ use of melodrama and heightened emotion. Curiously, a more muddled morality, and thereby a conflicted humanity, is afforded to a few of the criminals and their co-conspirators, such as head henchman Damian. Brazilian actor Rodrigo Santoro appears to relish the character’s villainous behavior while also proving capable of portraying his occasional charm and personal predicament.Mr. Wilson could be accused of falling back on his signature comedic schtick as talkative Ben, though it often comes across as a tonic in such a dramatic film. Even his simple assertion that it’s a “crazy world” at one point elicited a laugh out of me. He also shares a rapport with the more contained Mr. Ritchson, leading to some entertaining moments between the two as they get to know each other, such as when Hank rides a bicycle as Ben hangs on. For his part, the lead actor cuts a striking figure with his impressive physique, cocked brows, and doleful blue eyes. Smartly, Mr. Ritchson doesn’t do any additional, actorly heart-tugging as the script provides more than enough.As the film dashes to its finale, which is really a series of CGI-enhanced climaxes and plot surprises, it no longer straddles the line between the plausible and the ridiculous but heads straight into too-muchness. One’s good sense and defenses, though, have been so worn down over the course of its mercifully brief runtime that begrudging respect is warranted. In the end, it’s possible to say “Runner” earns its emotional stripes.

A Race Against Time and Implausibility

A Race Against Time and Implausibility

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