RUNNER Reviewed by GREG KING
Director: Scott Waugh
Stars: Alan Ritchson, Owen Wilson, Rodrigo Santoro, Leila George, Peta Sergeant, Jacob Hohua, Kate Box, Geraldine Hakewell, Cecilia Toussant, Scarlett Crabtree, Goran D Kleut, Gyton Grantley.
There is plenty of mayhem, bruising actions, car chases, shootouts and a high body count in this high octane, testosterone fuelled action comedy set and shot in Queensland. Written by Miles Hubley and Tommy White (the Oscar winning documentary The Cove), Runner is a deliberate throw back to those odd couple buddy action comedies that were popular in the 80s and 90s (think films like 48 Hours, Midnight Run and their ilk). The script featured on the so-called “Black List” of the best unproduced scripts of 2023.
Former US SEAL Hank Malone (Alan Ritchson, best known for playing the iconic Jack Reacher in the tv adaptation of Lee Child’s bestselling novels) now is a divorced alcoholic who works as a “runner”, a person who transports goods (both legal and illegal) from one place to another. Think a more muscular version of the character played by Jason Statham in The Transporter. Hank receives his assignments from his dodgy handler Iggy, (voiced by Gyton Grantley, heard as a voice over the phone). His latest assignment seems simple enough, but it will eventually test his skills and push him to his limits.
He is assigned to pick up a medical package at Brisbane Airport and deliver it to a preassigned location. The package is a liver intended for a patient with a rare blood type and a potentially fatal illness. The liver is being carried in a small, high-tech refrigerated ice-box which is in the possession of Ben Bishop (Owen Wilson), who is responsible for escorting it to the Gold Coast Children’s Hospital where a terminally ill young girl is awaiting the lifesaving organ. He has three hours to deliver the organ.
But Iggy is giving Hank contradicting directions. Hank decides that Ben knows what he is doing and drives towards the Gold Coast. However, due to the rareness of the donor’s blood type someone else is desperate to get their hands on the organ and will use any means to secure it. That person is Damian Zaldivar (Rodrigo Santoro, from tv series Westworld, etc), who wants the liver to save his terminally ill mother. Damian is the ruthless head of a notorious drug cartel and he has thugs who belong to a vicious bikie gang at his disposal.
This sets in motion a frantic race through the streets of Brisbane and the Gold Coast as Hank and Ben try to outrun Damian and his thugs.
The film is directed by Scott Waugh (Expendables 4, etc), a former stunt performer, who certainly knows how to stage some exciting, bone-crunching action sequences. He and his writers certainly cram a lot into the film’s brisk running time of 98 minutes. Runner is undeniably formulaic and it follows the tropes of the genre, but it is still hugely enjoyable.
The superbly edited action is at times quite violent, but is leavened by generous touches of humour. The film develops and exploits the obvious physical contrast between Ritchson’s taciturn, muscular and rugged action hero and Wilson’s hyperactive, talkative, annoying and cowardly character. They develop a wonderful chemistry and rapport that lifts the movie. There are also several moments that allow for some character development and Hank’s backstory to emerge. Ritchson has an imposing physical presence that suits his role, while Santoro is over the top as the one-dimensional villain.
Runner has been shot on location in both the Gold Coast and Brisbane, and cinematographer Lorenzo Senatore (2019’s Hellboy, etc) does a superb job of bringing these locations to life.
Not to be confused with the similarly titled 2026 film The Runner, which stars Gal Gadot and Damian Lewis, which was largely panned by critics and disappeared to streaming platforms.
★★★☆
