Sci-Fi The Running Man Remake with Edgar Wright!

[squeekness]

I enjoyed it, but it's basically the movie I was expecting. Decent romp at the theaters, but a movie that doesn't ever justify why bother remaking this. The script isn't particularly good. Awful dialogue throughout, generic and shallow messaging, and it all kind of comes together as if it's everyone behind the camera's first movie. If I didn't know it was Wright, I would've just assumed it was fill in the blank journeyman.

The cast is all fun and carried my interest throughout. Powell isn't strong enough to cover up the script, but he's got enough pull to make me care.

I've not seen many remakes that compared well to the originals. Not sure why they keep spending the money on them versus something original.

 

[Spider-Fan]

I liked this movie, but I didn't love it. 3rd Act was weak and relied a lot on multiple characters suddenly acting like morons. I also think it's not properly setup in Acts 1 and 2 cause of how they decided to pace the movie.

Spoiler

We get a lot of exposition telling us that he is essentially Katnis Everdeen, but I didn't see anything that justified that. There isn't a moment like Katniss putting the flowers on Rue or anything that makes you feel like the audience is coming on to his side. Exposition isn't enough. Also I feel like Ben Richards here is not terribly interesting. He has a great backstory, but as a character he is one note: angry. All the time. That's it.

But it has good action, largely well shot, and visually looks good. I think we had some script and pacing issues though. So I wanted a 5 star movie, and I feel like I got a 3 or 3.5 star movie. Which is a shame cause I know what Wright is capable of.

 

[Zantera]

How is Glen Powell in this? I'm curious because I've heard mixed things. He feels like Chris Pratt from 10 years ago. The actor who is suddenly being pushed heavily to be front and center of a lot of movies. The guy who has the looks, the charisma and the humor.

I liked him in Maverick but he obviously plays as part of the ensemble there which is different to being the lead. Don't think I've seen any of the films he's made after to capitalize on that success, hence why I'm curious. (Heard everything between he's fine to he's flat)

 

[Lily Adler]

What film does Edgar get to make in exchange for doing this?

 

[Deck Rickard]

How is Glen Powell in this? I'm curious because I've heard mixed things. He feels like Chris Pratt from 10 years ago. The actor who is suddenly being pushed heavily to be front and center of a lot of movies. The guy who has the looks, the charisma and the humor.

I liked him in Maverick but he obviously plays as part of the ensemble there which is different to being the lead. Don't think I've seen any of the films he's made after to capitalize on that success, hence why I'm curious. (Heard everything between he's fine to he's flat)

He was legitimately great in Hit Man. I feel like that movie proved that he’s more than a generic pretty boy lead. But even though I haven’t seen The Running Man yet, I can kinda understand the criticisms that he feels miscast. Because he stilll looks like a movie star and he doesn’t really fit “Everyman” roles. While he certainly looks like more of an Everyman than Arnold, he still looks like a guy who could be famous and does 4 hours of CrossFit a day.

 

[Spider-Fan]

See, I don't really blame Powell for Running Man. I blame the script. He is scripted as a one note, angry guy.

 

[blueharvest]

 

[Shinobi Shaw]

I was also surprised by the lack of Brolin in this movie. His character certainly is no Richard Dawson this time around.

 

[Mandon Knight]

Hope Edgar still gets to make 'Hollywood' films (outside his British films) off the back of this. I know box office does not represent the quality or value of a film, but in US, or financing world of films, its all about $$$$ and his films (outside of the UK) have a history of not making budgets back or big bucks.

 

[Zantera]

He was legitimately great in Hit Man. I feel like that movie proved that he’s more than a generic pretty boy lead. But even though I haven’t seen The Running Man yet, I can kinda understand the criticisms that he feels miscast. Because he stilll looks like a movie star and he doesn’t really fit “Everyman” roles. While he certainly looks like more of an Everyman than Arnold, he still looks like a guy who could be famous and does 4 hours of CrossFit a day.

Yeah he's not really an "everyman". But like you point out with Arnold it's kinda funny because Arnold kept playing multiple "everyman" roles throughout his career. Like you watch True Lies or Total Recall where characters around Arnold act like he is a normal guy and you just chuckle to yourself because he's clearly not.

 

[BatLobster]

Yeah, while I enjoyed this and thought it was overall solid, I do have to agree that something about Powell in the lead didn't quite land for me here. Whether that's on him or the writing, or a little of both, tough to say. I do wonder if that was the intent, to sort of mirror the Arnold casting and have this kind of cartoonish hunk of a guy play the "everyman underdog" and that's meant as part of the charm of the conceit. At the same time, he was by no means bad or anything. It's all very watchable, and I definitely enjoyed it visually. Especially the retro futurism aspects which I'm a sucker for. Thought of the rest of the cast was great for the most part- Domingo, Brolin and Cera were all enjoyable.

Yeah he's not really an "everyman". But like you point out with Arnold it's kinda funny because Arnold kept playing multiple "everyman" roles throughout his career. Like you watch True Lies or Total Recall where characters around Arnold act like he is a normal guy and you just chuckle to yourself because he's clearly not.

This is what makes Jingle All the Way.

 

[Deck Rickard]

Yeah he's not really an "everyman". But like you point out with Arnold it's kinda funny because Arnold kept playing multiple "everyman" roles throughout his career. Like you watch True Lies or Total Recall where characters around Arnold act like he is a normal guy and you just chuckle to yourself because he's clearly not.

LOL yeah. I guess with those movies it kinda worked because he was secretly a badass but it is funny how in True Lies everyone believes he’s just a computer salesman or something lol.

 

[CaptainWagner]

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Bummed to see this underperform and personally ashamed I can't make it opening weekend to support my man Glen. (And Domingo, Wright, & Katy O'Brien, who I all love as well) There's just so many movies out this month I want to see and its the busiest month of the year for me