'Flight Risk' review: Mark Wahlberg goes bananas in Mel Gibson’s silly airplane thriller
Courtesy of Lionsgate
Returning to the director’s chair for the first time since 2016’s Oscar-winning “Hacksaw Ridge,” Mel Gibson finds himself in a very different kind of life-or-death scenario with “Flight Risk”—a breezy, if utterly absurd, thriller that convinced Mark Wahlberg to shave his head . (At least he’s trying something new!) Clocking in at a tight 91 minutes with a simple, easy-to-digest premise, “Flight Risk” doesn’t aim to be anything more than a foolish, diverting late-January release. While it’s not exactly a good film, it does serve up some white-knuckle thrills, and Wahlberg is fully committed to the manic challenge of playing a hired sociopath hell-bent on completing his mission.
The entire film takes place almost entirely within the cramped confines of a small charter plane buzzing through the Alaska wilderness, and first-time screenwriter Jared Rosenberg wisely doesn’t overcomplicate things. On board this jittery plane is Madelyn (Michelle Dockery), a deputy U.S. Marshal tasked with transporting Winston (Topher Grace), a witness who’s about to testify against his former boss—one of the world’s most notorious crime lords. Their pilot is Daryl Booth, a Texan cowboy played by Wahlberg.
But Booth isn’t exactly the upstanding Christian boy his persona suggests. Once the autopilot is engaged, all hell breaks loose, with knife brawls and gunfights erupting as Madelyn and Winston fight for their lives 3,000 feet in the air. Much of this is utterly preposterous—particularly Wahlberg’s bald spot, which looks like something straight out of a “Saturday Night Live” skit. However, the film’s brisk runtime ensures it doesn’t overstay its welcome, delivering a straightforward ride to the finish line. There are a few surprises along the way, but Gibson keeps the turbulence steady.
Dockery holds her own amidst the chaos, balancing the speed of the film with the demands of her character. In addition to dealing with Booth, Madelyn must figure out how to prevent the plane from crashing, all while navigating a mindless subplot involving her superiors potentially being double agents. Grace, on the other hand, serves as the comic relief, offering a few laughs with his one-liners—some of which land better than others. And Wahlberg, who hasn’t had the best track record with films recently, fully embraces the campy goofiness of his villainous character, delivering a performance that’s surprisingly fun. It’s a portrayal audiences don’t often see from him, and it adds a layer of entertainment to an otherwise ridiculous film.
Ultimately, “Flight Risk” is an unserious movie that knows how absurd it is—and that’s about all you can expect from a film released in the dog days of January.
Grade: B-
FLIGHT RISK is now playing in theaters.