‘Flight Risk’ Review: Mark Wahlberg in a Mel Gibson-Directed Actioner That’s Almost Fast Enough to Make You Forgive Its Flaws

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Mel Gibson’s latest directorial project since his work on “Hacksaw Ridge” in 2016 ventures into a different realm compared to his usual grand productions. Instead, we find ourselves ensconced within the confined space of a compact Cessna aircraft, serving as the main setting for the movie titled “Flight Risk“. This film revolves around an intense airborne adventure involving a U.S. Deputy Marshall, a witness with mob connections, and a pilot who unexpectedly turns out to be an assassin. In its exhilarating 91-minute run, “Flight Risk “successfully provides heart-stopping moments in the sky. However, its dialogue can feel awkward at times, performances are uneven, and the visual effects aren’t top-notch, earning it a comparison to Spirit Airlines among airborne thrillers.

Jared Rosenberg’s screenplay is undeniably streamlined, promptly setting its scene when Deputy Marshall Madolyn (Michelle Dockery) and her team storm into a seedy Alaskan motel room, where mob accountant Winston (Topher Grace) has taken refuge after embezzling millions from his employer. Shortly afterward, Madolyn leads Winston, handcuffed, onto an aged single-engine aircraft for a swift trip to Anchorage, where he’s due to testify in exchange for immunity.

It turns out that the pilot is actually Daryl, a character played by Mark Wahlberg, who sports an exaggerated Southern accent that might have hinted at his untruthfulness. As expected, Daryl eventually shows his real nature (revealing a bald head when his wig falls off) and comes close to harming Madolyn before she successfully stuns and restrains him with a taser.

It turns out to be quite a predicament since only one person knows how to operate the aircraft. Daryl quips sarcastically as Madolyn battles to maintain altitude with Winston watching anxiously. Despite radio contact being unattainable in the mountains, she recalls having a satellite phone and successfully contacts her supervisor (portrayed by Leah Remini). With Hassan (played by Maaz Ali) on the other line, she’s given guidance on piloting the plane while he also tries to flirt with her.

In the end, the playful exchanges become too excessive. However, everything in the movie “Flight Risk” becomes overly intense – from the corny dialogue that resembles a poorly written radio drama, where Madolyn struggles to uncover the traitor within her group, to the frequent escapes by Daryl from his restraints, leading to numerous tense confrontations involving firearms, knives, flare guns, and even seatbelts.

Despite the swift and brisk pace set by Gibson, there’s barely a moment to express discomfort. Wahlberg, taking on a truly villainous role since 1996’s “Fear”, adds to this speed with his portrayal. Interestingly, despite shaving his head for the part, it appears less authentic than a prosthetic bald cap. Wahlberg’s character embraces evil so excessively that Ralph Fiennes’ Voldemort seems reserved in comparison. A significant portion of the film finds Wahlberg confined to the plane’s rear, spewing increasingly vulgar (and oddly homoerotic) insults, as per Gibson’s direction, which were mostly improvised. Unlike his usual stoic, heroic roles, Wahlberg here lets loose, and he’s never seemed more vibrant on screen.

As a gamer, I’ve got to hand it to Dockery – her gritty performance in this show is nothing short of impressive, a stark contrast from Lady Mary Crawley we know from Downton Abbey. Yet, she’s shown her versatility before, especially in Good Behavior. On the other hand, Grace brings the laughs as the nervous convict with a knack for sharp wit, even when teetering on the edge of death.

As the thrilling end of “Flight Risk” unfolds with a climax so extravagant that even the creators of “Die Hard” might consider excessive, you’ll likely find yourself chuckling at its absurdity. Yet, it’s unlikely that you’d think about checking your phone during the whole movie.

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2025-01-24 02:25