Mel Gibson’s Flight Risk is a thriller that ultimately fails to live up to expectations, despite a promising premise and an impressive cast. With Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Dockery, and Topher Grace on board, the film has the potential to be a gripping, high-stakes adventure. Unfortunately, it’s held back by a lackluster script, weak direction, and performances that don’t quite hit the mark.
The film centers on Madolyn Harris (Dockery), a U.S. marshal tasked with escorting a fugitive-turned-informant, Winston (Grace), back to safety after he’s been in hiding in a remote Alaskan town. The two board a cargo plane piloted by Daryl Booth (Wahlberg), a mysterious character whose true motives are soon revealed. What follows is a deadly game of survival, but the film’s execution falters at nearly every turn.
Despite a strong setup, Flight Risk fails to deliver the suspense and tension that a thriller of this nature demands. The script, written by Jared Rosenberg, relies too heavily on forced humor, with characters often spouting one-liners that distract from the more serious elements of the plot. Wahlberg’s portrayal of the villainous Daryl Booth feels more cartoonish than menacing, and his character lacks depth or motivation. The humor injected into the dialogue undercuts the stakes, making it difficult to take the film’s tension seriously.
The technical aspects of Flight Risk also leave much to be desired. The decision to use The Volume—a soundstage technology intended to create realistic backdrops—ends up making the film’s visuals feel artificial. The aerial sequences, which should have been thrilling, come across as unconvincing, pulling the audience out of the story. The lack of spatial coherence in the cockpit scenes further diminishes the sense of danger, making the confined setting feel oddly disconnected.
Dockery’s performance as the tough U.S. marshal, Madolyn, never fully convinces. While her casting is an interesting choice, she struggles to embody the character’s strength and determination, often coming off as though she’s trying too hard. Grace’s portrayal of Winston, while often quick-witted, also feels hollow due to the script’s reliance on humor rather than character development.
Gibson’s direction feels out of place in this film, as he fails to capitalize on the potential of the small, confined space to create a sense of claustrophobia or urgency. Instead, the pacing feels uneven, and the film struggles to maintain any real tension, even in its most critical moments. What could have been a gripping thriller ends up feeling more like a missed opportunity, lacking the emotional depth and suspense that would have made it compelling.
In the end, Flight Risk is a forgettable film that doesn’t live up to the promise of its premise or its talented cast. It’s a thriller that feels lifeless, with a script that never quite resonates and direction that fails to bring the story to life. Despite its potential, Flight Risk ultimately stalls before it gets off the ground.
Rating: ★★☆☆☆
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