by Jeffery Rahming, Contributing Writer
Alan Ritchson has proven himself as a definitive TV action star of the 2020s with his hit show Reacher. But in 2026, it’s clear his desire is to be a movie star. Runner marks his third lead role in an action film this year, following Motor City and War Machine, which is apparently the 9th most-watched Netflix movie of all time. (Although Netflix seems to hype up the numbers on every new project they drop). But, after one streaming hit and one theatrical flop, does this Runner have what it takes to further establish him as an action star?
Runner follows Hank Malone (Ritchson), an American courier living in Brisbane, Australia. In classic action flick fashion, he also happens to be ex-military. He’s tasked with picking up a medical package containing a liver with a rare blood type that’s going to a sick little girl. Unexpectedly, the package comes with another talkative courier, Ben Bishop (Owen Wilson), who Hank must also transport to the hospital while dealing with Ben’s incessant need for small talk. Their already tense ride gets worse when the biggest drug lord in Brisbane, (Adriana Barraza González) sends her son, Damian (Rodrigo Santaro) and his goons after them to retrieve the liver for herself. Now Ben and Hank have to work together to escape, sending them on a wild chase through the city. They also have to keep the package cool enough to keep the organ from becoming too damaged for use, which is pretty hard to do with bullets whizzing through the air.
Runner is a great example of a simple premise with great execution. While there are plenty of elements typical of a standard action flick, everything works so well despite the clichés. The story has no wasted moments and keeps things moving, perfectly balancing its character development with its action. Of course, the main focus is the dynamic between Ritchson and Wilson, as they make for a very delightful combo. It’s the usual character arc you see in these movies where they hate each other and then get to know each other, with Hank being the stoic dude that puts emotional walls up and Ben as the charming guy who knows just how to break those walls down. Is this just a rip-off of 1988’s Midnight Run? Yes, but it’s been forever since we had a good Midnight Run clone (Hollywood used to make them in droves), and this is a fun ride if you love the genre.
Ritchson delivers a charismatic leading man performance and is the perfect mixture of brooding and vulnerability you want from a gruff hero. Wilson, on the other hand, juggles both the laughs and heavy emotional moments to perfection. He turns what could be an obnoxious character into a lovable comedic relief, as only he can do. The direction their relationship takes is surprisingly touching and ends up in a place that I’ve never seen in a buddy action comedy before, which makes for an emotional yet satisfying ending.
There are no small parts here. Every minor character feels like they get chances to shine. The little girl’s nurses and her mother, Kate (Laila George) have their own subplot that keeps the story’s emotional stakes front and center. A lesser version of this script would just cut to Kate looking worried at the window every 20 minutes to remind us of the ticking clock. It’s nice that you’re given time to actually care about these characters, unlike most films, where they’re usually just given a small scene at the end where they profusely thank the hero for saving the day.
Runner has some of the most fun action set pieces I’ve seen this year. A standout example is an amazing car chase sequence shot in one continuous take, which reminded me of when the Fast and the Furious franchise was actually good. But what sets Runner apart from other modern-day action films is the hand-to-hand combat. This feels like the first action film in years where the choreography doesn’t feel like it’s trying to be John Wick. Similar to Reacher, Hank’s fighting style is less gun-kata and more brutal bruiser. The result is something we haven’t seen in a while. It’s a rarity nowadays to see someone of his size be a real action star without a super suit or a magic hammer. With all the special effects and shooting at each other, somehow the most impressive thing is the fun of seeing an impossibly buff movie star throwing guys around. When Hank fully sends his fridge-sized body through a wall like a human missile to take out a henchman I realized I was watching a new classic action star in the making, and I would be immediately seated for his next project.
While I don’t want to admit it, but I had low expectations going in, but don’t let that reduce the impact of those expectations being blown out of the water. This successfully captures a formula that feels forgotten to time in our era of franchise slop. It’s just a simple, fun thrill ride. If you’ve been waiting for a modern action movie that feels like those of the past, then Runner has come to your rescue.
Rating: Liked It
Runner is currently in theaters
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