“Runner”: A Fast-Paced, Adrenaline-Pumping Movie That’s Not To Be Missed
A former soldier is thrown into a brutal race against time when a critical medical delivery makes him and his unlikely partner the targets of a ruthless cartel. As a mission spirals into a deadly manhunt, every detour, delay and bullet pushes them closer to failure.
With betrayal closing in from every side, they must survive the chase and deliver their cargo to save the life of a little girl.
Before getting to my thoughts of the action-comedy “Runner,” I’ll just say that I am really surprised that Angel Studios, who’s primarily known for faith-based and family-friendly films, distributed an action-packed movie. Maybe the studio is just slowly testing the waters? “Runner” is a straight-forward action-thriller/comedy with minimal messaging, marking a distinct style shift for the studio.
“Runner” is an extremely fast-paced, entertaining “meat and potatoes” action-comedy. At just under 100 minutes, the movie wastes very little time. In fact, as soon as the movie starts, it gets straight to the point and keeps a continuous, high-adrenaline momentum going right until the very end - which is one of the things that I really like about this movie.
Unlike most modern action-thrillers that use rapid, disorienting cuts, director Scott Waugh used longer takes and wide-angle lenses up close. This actually allows the viewing audience to clearly track the intense action and feel deeply immersed in the physical combat.
Action fans will feel pleasantly surprised with how heavy and relentless the combat feels. Rather than relying heavily on shaky cam or CGI, the set pieces - especially the intense car chases and brutal hand to hand fights - have a truly satisfying, old-school action vibe.
While there are numerous action-packed sequences that really stand out, there is a multi-car pursuit through Queensland, Australia where Hank (Alan Ritchson) has to
keep the cooler carrying the organ secure while driving defensively against heavily armed cartel vehicles - that’s one of the most intense moments in the movie. There’s also a shoot-out that occurs, where Hank fends off waves of cartel enforcers while Ben (Owen Wilson) tries to keep the transport cooler locked and intact, that’s really suspenseful and also quite intense.
Another stand out element of this movie is the chemistry between Alan Ritchson (a.k.a. Reacher) and Owen Wilson. The pair do an awesome job bringing the classic odd-couple/buddy comedy energy and it absolutely works!
Ritchson plays the intense, stoic force of nature, while Wilson brings his signature, low-key, “wow” style humor. I also really like how Wilson’s character never tries to match Ritchson’s toughness and instead reacts to the extreme violence and chaos the way a regular person would.
Rather than competing for punchlines, their banter also flows naturally as Ritchson’s deadpan reactions amplify Wilson’s rambling, offbeat commentary, making their dialogue feel improvised and relaxed even amid high-stakes set pieces. There’s also a few moments where we see the little girl’s mother becoming very emotional throughout the movie - especially once she finds out what is going on with the organ in transport - and she even gets in on the action a little bit!
Faith-based and core Angel Studios audiences will also like how beneath the heavy gunfire and cartel chases, the story also carries a meaningful message about sacrifice, second chances and selflessness.
The overall audience response to Angel Studios’ “Runner” has been highly positive, with viewers praising its fast-paced entertainment and the central dynamic between its leads.
Cast: Alan Ritchson (Hank Malone); Owen Wilson (Ben Bishop); Rodrigo Santoro (Damian Zaldiver; Laila George (Kate Baker); Kate Box (Dr. Ainsley); Peta Sergeant (Nurse Julie); Gyton Grantley (Iggy)
Writer/director: Miles Hubley (writer); Tommy White (writer); Scott Waugh (director) (The Expendables 4; Need for Speed; Act of Valor)
MPA: Rated PG-13 for strong violence, bloody images and some language (runtime 97 minutes)
In mid 1990's, an action chase thriller very similar to the Runner was in development, but it was left unmade. Titled "Heartstopper", it was based on a spec script by Buckeye Williams, female screenwriter who sold her spec to Morgan Creek for $100,000 against $425,000, in October 1993. The spec sale did gained some notoriety due to the way Williams insisted on deadline for buying her spec, no matter how much the buyers felt about its quality. It had the following plot; Female lab technician must travel across the country in 7 hours with a new heart for the President of the United States, who has suffered a heart attack. Along the way she is chased by a band of terrorists.
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