Oscar nominee Mark Wahlberg transitions from hero to antagonist in the high-flying thriller "Flight Risk" from Lionsgate. Academy Award-winning director Mel Gibson directs the film, based on a script by Jared Rosenberg.
Air Marshal Madolyn (Michelle Dockery) accompanies a key witness named Winston(Topher Grace) to trial. Their pilot Daryl (Wahlberg) is initially friendly but naturally {insert Topher's character name) is on edge and trusts no one. As the trio crosses the Alaskan wilderness, tensions soar, as not everyone on board is who they seem.
Whether it's "Snakes on a Plane," "Con Air," or my personal favorite, "Passenger 57," and now "Flight Risk," they usually all follow the same template. The first ½ hour of the film usually sets up our premise and gives a little more detail than the trailer on why our central characters need to board a plane. Once aboard the plane, usual shenanigans will occur before all hell breaks loose. However, while the previously mentioned all had somewhat expansive casts with characters who are expendable, "Flight Risk" narrows it down to just three.
Primarily the central hook for "Flight Risk" to get butts in seats is the chance to see Mark Wahlberg portray a villain. I don't think we've seen the Boston-born actor as a bad guy since the 1996 cult classic "Fear." Sporting a bald cap and hamming up the dialogue with a Southern accent, Wahlberg is having fun. His supporting castmates Michelle Dockery and Topher Grace tap into the character templates required by a film of this sort.
Although "Flight Rish" presents a captivating premise, it ultimately falls short of delivering the excitement and enjoyment that would resonate with mainstream audiences. Within a limited space, the story develops through complex power struggles between three main characters, which creates the potential for an absorbing tale.
Jared Rosenberg's screenplay does not translate the premise's potential tension and excitement into the finished work. The movie tracks Dockery's navigation of the aircraft during its 91-minute duration while she follows instructions from a grounded pilot and deals with betrayals and fluctuating team alliances. The potential for excitement from high-stakes flying combined with team conflicts remains unfulfilled due to poor execution.
All of the beats in the film are hit for each character's motivation, which even novice viewers will figure out. Furthermore, Wahlberg spends lulls of the movie out of commission, and I would love to see more of a battle of wits between our heroes and villains. I will give Gibson kudos for pulling off a real-time, as the travel time on the plane correlates with the run time.
While Flight Risk does display Wahlberg's knack for playing a baddie and Gibson's skillful direction, its script never entirely takes off.
Final Grade: C
"Flight Risk" is in theaters today.
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