Fight or Flight Review: Josh Hartnett’s Action Thriller Sparks Moments Despite Formulaic Plot

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The upcoming action film titled “Fight or Flight,” featuring Josh Hartnett, was quite intriguing for two compelling reasons. Firstly, it marks Hartnett’s return to the big screen after a significant gap since his gripping performance in M. Night Shyamalan’s “Trap” and his first lead role in a major release since 2007’s “30 Days of Night.” Secondly, it is D.J. Cotrona’s debut as a screenwriter, who is recognized for portraying the superhero version of Pedro in the “Shazam!” movies, having co-written this film with Brooks McLaren from the movie “How It Ends.

It’s worth pointing out that the intriguing aspects I didn’t explicitly mention resemble the plot structure of last year’s film “Bullet Train”. The story follows Lucas Reyes, a mercenary played by Hartnett, who is on the run but has an opportunity to make amends. His mission: capture one final target, The Ghost – a mysterious hacker whose identity remains hidden but can be traced to a flight from Bangkok to San Francisco. However, there’s a twist: the plane carrying The Ghost is filled with assassins who are determined to eliminate them once and for all.

Fight Or Flight Is Ever So Slightly On The Right Side Of Formulaic

The Action Movie Has Bursts Of Cleverness

In my opinion, I believe there’s nothing wrong with sticking to a formula when creating a genre film. It can be incredibly enjoyable and fulfilling to watch a well-executed formula. However, if the formula is only “adequately” done, it can result in some of the most boring and tiresome films within that particular genre. The movie Fight or Flight, while it mostly fits into this category, manages to deviate slightly from the norm, preventing it from becoming a complete drag.

Unfortunately, Josh Hartnett’s character fails to make the movie memorable. While his presence is undeniably crucial for the film, his role as Lucas Reyes doesn’t offer much depth. The stereotypical “drunkard with a heart of gold on a redemption arc” persona he portrays is so common that it barely leaves an impact. This issue also applies to his co-lead, Isha, played by Charithra Chandran from ‘Bridgerton’, who significantly contributes to the storyline once Lucas gets on the plane. However, her role doesn’t seem to offer much novelty either.

In the movie, most assassins succumb to being ordinary and uninteresting. They’re typical action movie characters with their unique quirks, and their signature moves seem like rough drafts (one even carries a clarinet?), many of which draw from a basic Hollywood kit of Asian stereotypes. Moreover, the killers in this film are not portrayed by top-tier actors that really elevate Bullet Train.

Fight Or Flight’s Best Moments Are Its Action Scenes

A Capable Leading Cast & Outrageous Fight Scenes Buoy The Movie

The film, although it can’t match the star-studded appeal of “Bullet Train”, instead finds its lead actors delivering solid performances despite being confined by predictable storylines. Notably, Katee Sackhoff from “The Mandalorian” and Julian Kostov from “Shadow and Bone” put on quite a show, their characters as operatives on the ground, communicating with Lucas, are particularly noteworthy for their scene-stealing performances.

In the action sequences, the “Fight or Flight” concept truly shines. Although some fights may appear too rehearsed or rigid, they ingeniously exploit every nook and cranny of the aircraft to create pandemonium and devastation, from beverage carts to armrests, seatbelts, overhead compartments, and beyond. Remarkably, the filmmakers continue to come up with innovative methods to maintain the freshness of numerous fight scenes, despite the confined environment in which the movie is set.

The film is not only brimming with gruesome excitement, it lavishly dishes out over-the-top, gory demises for numerous characters. While some viewers might find this aspect less appealing, as a seasoned horror enthusiast, let me assure you that there’s plenty of enjoyable entertainment in store for those who appreciate such scenes. Despite occasional digital imperfections, the effects are well balanced with practical or effectively enhanced CGI effects, making the action-comedy violence feel both authentic and striking.

Although the Hartnettaissance doesn’t represent a significant leap forward, Hartnett won’t be negatively affected by it either. He has demonstrated that he hasn’t lost his knack for action roles, so perhaps the Trap star can soon land a new action movie character that better showcases his abilities.

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2025-05-06 21:14