Disclaimer: I’m a blind film critic. This movie had audio description from the Icon group.

We had a few Stephen King adaptations this year, didn’t we? Well, one more can’t hurt, right? I mean, is The running Man really such a teflon product it can’t be remade by Edgar Wright with Glen Powell taking over for Arnold Schwarzenegger? Actually, yeah, we didn’t need this,. Despite the 110 million price tag, this listless remake (or adaptation depending on how you view it), is disappointing. It also isn’t one of the worst things I’ve ever seen. it strives to be so incredibly accessible, it ends up ring forgettable, and a poor option when something came before it. I’m not saying films can’t be remade, but if you are going to do it, bring it on home. Edgar Wright, a director with the potential to add a lot of pizazz to his movies as witnessed by his career spanning everything from hot Fuzz to Baby Driver. he finds a way, but he didn’t here.

the film expects Powell’s natural charm to carry the entire film, which isn’t a bad gamble. But you still have to give him things to do. he’s proven himself so good across a variety of projects, and seems to understand the tone of the film, but The Running Man can’t really figure out which genre it wants to be. It has comic beats, some cool science fiction tricks, social commentary, blips of brutal violence, and a bevy of supporting actors for Glen Powell to run through. I wish Wright had done more with this, because Powell is game for absurdity, Coleman Domingo and Josh Brolin could have easily ramped up the camp, and we might have had something a bit fun, which has something to say along the lines of a Black Mirror episode. A cautionary tale about where we are and how that can lead to where we might be. It tends to focus a lot on our obsession with reality television, but without necessarily supporting the idea that people just sit around and vegetate on television. They all seem to know what is happening, but how? King wrote an interesting novel long before there ever was anything like Black Mirror, which took society to task about our future in tech and beyond, and now the running Man has to be smarter, faster, and punch harder.

the story is simple. A man (Powell) tries to earn some quick cash to save his sick child, and enters a life or death competition that pays very well. he ends up giving those that run the show, more than they bargained for. But while he has Katniss Everdeen qualities, about the relatability of being a dad fighting for his kid, nothing really takes full advantage of it. This feels like the kind of film that could have turned him into an icon for a long overdue uprising, but instead it focuses on deep fakes, making him appear like an asshole when needed.He can’t really quite gain the traction he needs to stick it to the man, which makes the ending and the payoff feel unearned. How did we get here? Is he inspirational?

Other supporting cast, from Michael Cera, William H Macy, Amelia Jones, and David Zayas all move through their interactions like they were never really meant to impact the story in a meaningful way, but more like guides in a videogame, offering advice or a quest. Maybe they have a tool you need. I truly couldn’t help but think of the Robocop remake with Joel Kinnaman or the Total Recall remake with Colin Farrell. It feels like those, a film that isn’t sure why it exists other than to extend a brand, and perhaps profit off brand awareness for a new generation. In every instance the original is better.

I did enjoy the description by Icon, and the narrator sounds a little like H Jon Benjamin. it tries to bring the science fiction and action elements to life, the most engaging parts. But sadly, Edgar Wright just seems to struggle finding the right rhythm for this. And when that happens not only is it unfortunate for those involved with this film, but it taints the waters, preventing anyone from trying again, perhaps ever, but certainly for a long time.

the Running Man trips and falls, trying to figure out why it exists, and how to adapt to a different social climate and maintain any scathing commentary on where we are headed.

Rotten: 5.3/10