Runner Review: Alan Ritchson and Owen Wilson Lend Some Personality to a Good-Enough Action Thriller

When Stars Need a Job

Are movie stars okay? This question has been on my mind as I watched the recent wave of celebrity spokesperson roles—Ben Affleck finally doing Aflac commercials, and a steady stream of star-driven straight-to-streaming fare. It seems that actors who were once considered "successful" are now hustling for any work they can get.

"Owen Wilson, for example, has recently appeared in a big-budget Disney movie ('Haunted Mansion'), played a high-profile character within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and is soon set to return to his scene-stealing role in the 'Fockers' franchise. So why is he in Angel Studios' 'Runner'?"

Scott Waugh's action thriller co-starring Alan Ritchson, Runner, is actually quite entertaining, clocking in at a lean 98 minutes. It's neither polished enough to hold up against proper studio fare, nor scrappy enough to thrive as Roger Corman-style exploitation. However, what it lacks in polish, it makes up for with personality—largely thanks to Ritchson and Wilson.

Enter Hank Malone and Ben Bishop

Alan Ritchson plays Hank Malone, a "big American war hero" turned courier in Brisbane, Australia who has just collected his AA coin for a year of sobriety. He's teaching himself French in his late daughter's honor, and when his employer gives him a short-term job, picking up a donated liver being transported from the U.S., Hank gets more than he bargained for.

Ben Bishop (Wilson) is a chatty messenger determined to accompany the organ to its final destination. The premise, though thinly sketched, is enough to sustain the wall-to-wall action sequences that keep things moving at a brisk pace.

A Tense Chase Through Australia

With limited time before the organ loses viability, Ben directs Hank to drive directly to a Gold Coast hospital about an hour away. There, anxious mother Kate (Leila George) awaits the liver for her sick daughter Ellie (Scarlett Crabtree). But after spotting a motorcade of black-clad vehicles creeping through city traffic after their car, Hank realizes that another party considers the organ valuable.

This other party is led by Damian Zaldívar (Rodrigo Santoro), the ruthless son of a drug lord (Cecilia Toussaint) who also needs the liver to stay alive. He's instructed Damian to kill anyone who interferes with his obtaining it.

What Makes Runner Work

Starring and co-producing by Ritchson, Runner is really a showcase for him—a talented actor with real screen presence who hasn't demonstrated much versatility but has been on the cusp of stardom for several years. This doesn't feel likely to bump him up to the big leagues, but it's the kind of film that makes you believe in his potential.

The most complimentary comparison to make is that it feels like his version of The Rundown, Dwayne Johnson's underappreciated 2003 star vehicle from when he was still The Rock. In both cases, the characters at least initially try to avoid violence, and harbor aspirations more personal than pummelling opponents ad nauseam.

Opposite Ritchson in full “butterscotch stallion” mode is Wilson, testing Ben's likability with a motor-mouthed performance he's given a few dozen times. Whether improvising or sticking closely to the script by Miles Hubley and Tommy White, Wilson's talent and experience maintain the charm of a character who practically talks nonstop but in other hands could simply be obnoxious.

Direction That Keeps It Moving

Waugh, named a 2012 Director to Watch by Variety, last helmed the dismal Expend4bles. He redeems himself with this project, perhaps because he's serving the needs of only two main actors and not a smorgasbord of stars. His direction is clear in delivering what this film needs to accomplish.

Sure, it's simplistic and frequently silly, but most of the laughs are intentional, and the action is sturdy and exciting. Even so, you feel like corners have been cut—Is this the first production unable to license "Spirit in the Sky"? Norman Greenbaum's ubiquitous 1969 single isn't the only song replaced by a cover or soundalike.

Personality Over Production Value

The setting of Brisbane serves no purpose other than to highlight what must have been significant tax incentives, and the moving backgrounds outside the windows of every conveyance on screen needed at least one more visual effects pass. Sadly, that's the stuff that makes all the good work done elsewhere seem chintzy or inadequate.

However, the actors are clearly having fun, which can elevate even the cheapest-looking entertainment to classic status. This clunky vehicle doesn't transcend its limitations—but Wilson and Ritchson's efforts are the duct tape holding it together. It's much better than anyone could have expected, and makes you want to see them together again in something a bit slicker and more sophisticated.

Conclusion

Ultimately, Runner is precisely the kind of for-hire work that proves its stars deserve better. It's a solid entry in the action-thriller genre, with some heart, humor, and genuine chemistry between its leads. While it may not win any awards, it delivers on its promise of entertainment—and that's more than enough for this reviewer.