Flight Risk

Wow. This might be the worst movie I have seen at the cinema for a long long time. I really can't understand how it got passed as a theatrical release. Straight to TV at best, if it should've been made at all!

I won't give the plot away in case anyone reading this is into wasting 90 minutes of their lives but suffice it to say even Mark Wahlberg can't save this one. And on that note...I can't even see the point in Wahlberg's character. The witness/prisoner was worthy of a smack in the mouth most the way through the film, absolutely not funny and irritating as hell until the final scenes when his predicament actually makes him a semi-likeable character.

This film is full of a lot of "whys" for me. "Why didn't you just shoot him?" "Why is the pilot on the airwaves immediately on the pull?" "Why is Mark Wahlberg sporting a rascal fake bald head??" "Why is the aircraft still flying after plummeting through thick mountain top snow?" "Why did Mel Gibson bother??" I could go on...

Flight Risk is Mel Gibson's latest film (a thriller/action piece) and stars Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Dockery, and Topher Grace. It made my list of most anticipated for the year, and much like my experience with Wolf Man, I enjoyed this film for what it was. Simple plot, decent acting and action, and not anything that wears out its welcome. While there are some nitpicks I had about various moments that didn't feel quite so solid, the film as a whole was enjoyable enough that I wasn't pissed or disappointed. As I've mentioned before, I consider that a win these days. Video review is on my YouTube channel.

With the boss of the "Moretti" crime family about to go on trial, his accountant "Winston" (Topher Grace) thought it better to skedaddle to the Alaskan wilderness. Unluckily for him, determined deputy marshal "Madolyn" (Michelle Dockery) tracks him down and engages the pilot of a single-prop aircraft to fly him back to New York to turn state's evidence. The pilot (Mark Wahlberg) is one of those annoyingly chirpy guys and off they set. It's gonna be a bumpy ride, but after she notices a few scars on this man, it proves to be a great deal bumpier as their tiny little cockpit becomes the scene for quite a power struggle. It's that claustrophobic environment and quite an engaging effort from Wahlberg that deliver here as this airborne game of cat and mouse hots up. Sure, it does repeat itself once too often and the story is really all quite predictably weak, but the scenario does work well enough and with Grace's wise-cracking and a competent performance from Dockery it's actually not a bad watch for ninety minutes.

I enjoyed everything about this movie and the tension was well maintained, right to the very end.

It may have been confusing in some parts but I later realised that it created frantic scenarios in a tiny plane space which I feel was masterfully done.

I had no expectation and knew nothing about the story line and watched it for what it is - very entertaining, a great thriller with a good pace.

I had no idea it was directed by Mel Gibson - I think he did a great job. We need more stories like this, quick to the point and honest about what it is without unnecessary details that hinder the tension. Every time you start to feel at ease and think things are finally in control something will happen to unsettle you.

How can you rate this movie a 10/10? It's not even close to being Saving Private Ryan, Schindlers List, A Beautiful Life, Shawnshank Redemption, Gladiator, etc. Those movies aren't even rated 10/10. The acting and storyline was mediocre at best. After seeing this in theatres I thought it was a waste of money and should've just been released to Netflix directly. Don't get me wrong I'm a fan of Mel Gibson, Topher Grace, and Mark Wahlberg. Felt like it was a low budget movie. There were areas that were entertaining. However, I felt like this movie was lacking depth. Do yourself a favor and wait to watch this movie whenever it comes out on your favorite streaming service.