Everybody loves an unnecessarily complicated plot, right? Right? Like one where the movie could have ended ten minutes in, but instead we’re just strung along for an hour-and-a-half because assassination was what? Taken off the table during production? This film is about an airplane highjacking with lethal intent … and somehow both death and vetting were off the table.
Super.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Madolyn Harris (Michelle Dockery) can’t hide on this flight. There are only three people. One is the plot and one is in chains. She can’t disguise herself as the drunk in 11C. Hence, you won’t have much trouble guessing who the U.S. Marshal is, huh?
Winston (Topher Grace) has been hiding from authorities and the mob. He’s made it to a remote part of Alaska. Hey, good for you, Winston. Unfortunately, this where his luck ends. Marshal Harris catches him and vows to take him back to Seattle to testify against the mob. Oh, and despite having a whole bunch of help to collect and detain Winston, she only needs herself and a rented plane to execute the next part of the plan. Can’t say I’m a fan of this plan – or the time-table (Winston has to be in Seattle in a day to testify)—but it’s not my plan.
Besides, what could go wrong?
I mean, other than the part where the mob takes advantage of a leak and sends a hitter to do in Winston. And this is where professional hit-man Daryl Booth (Mark Wahlberg) comes in. He’s the pilot. And he can actually fly. The question is why he needs to … and why did no one vet him before he got on the plane?
And my bigger question is why after you’ve identified and neutralized the threat did you not take more care to make sure that threat was never going to threaten you again? This is where a bad plot becomes a stupid plot.
Or, I dunno, answer me this: how much do you care about the mob you’re trying to take down? Enough to care about Winston and make sure his life isn’t threatened in any way? Or will the p
rosecutor be equally as unprepared when you get to Seattle? “Your honor, I’d like to have evidence and stuff, I mean, we’re pretty sure these guys are bad, but you just might have to take my word for it, cuz we half-assed this entire thing.”
Suffice to say this isn’t the world’s most secure puddle jumper, but one really has to stretch to figure out why more gunplay isn’t involved. Flight Risk feels like what it might be like to wrestle a drunk badger in a cage match … and then, after you’ve pinned the badger, to just leave him there – I’m sure there’s no “flight risk” or anything.
Flight Risk is indeed a thriller, albeit a silly one. I don’t know if director Mel Gibson is try to endear himself to American audiences again, but if this is an attempt, it isn’t working. I see that Michelle Dockery would love to expand her on-screen persona beyond the halls of Downton, but, again, if this the attempt, it isn’t working. And if Mark Wahlberg had in mind that he wants to start playing bad guys, well, it isn’t … wait, I take that one back; I thought Marky Mark played a reasonable baddy bad in this thing. It wasn’t his fault the action was stupid.
There once was a heavy named Booth
Whose executions were wholly uncouth
So he highjacked a plane
To continue his reign
Cuz plain shooting fell short less of ruth
Rated R, 91 Minutes
Director: Mel Gibson
Writer: Jared Rosenberg
Genre: Things that didn’t happen
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: People who love when plans are unnecessarily complicated
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: “Why didn’t you just shoot ______?”
