FIGHT OR FLIGHT is a movie for audiences who thought BULLET TRAIN was too demure.
Director James Madigan, who transitioned from heading up second units to helming the whole shebang, knows action like the back of his hand and delivers it in spades while making fun of actioners at the same time. It all happens in this new film where mercenary Lucas Reyes must find a terrorist aboard a commercial aircraft headed for San Francisco from Bangkok. The word gonzo may be inadequate to describe it all, but it comes as close as any word can to describing this fever dream craziness with a high body count. Josh Hartnett stars, performing both the stunts and comedy with aplomb, and if watching an aging leading man take out all kinds of bad guys reminds you of John Wick, all the better. The movie feels like it may have been sold as “John Wick on a plane” as well as one with its eye on becoming a franchise. It’s certainly scripted to feel that way.
That script starts with the simplest of premises. Down-and-out alcoholic Reyes is called upon to handle a special, off-the-books black op by his old boss Katherine Brunt (Katee Sackhoff). The job involves hopping an American-bound plane to apprehend a terrorist aboard known only as “The Ghost.” Brunt, working for some sort of sinister corporation, doesn’t even know if their prey is a man or woman and despite state-of-the-art surveillance constantly monitoring the flight, it’s up to Reyes to identify the villain and save the day. Brunt promises to expunge Reyes’ criminal record, allowing him to return to the United States a new man, so despite knowing that he’s up against a deadly terrorist onboard, he’s ready to rumble.
Of course, such simple stories often have more elaborate backstories like Reyes’ not to mention lots of zigging and zagging in the plotting. Happily, Reyes’ story is rather interesting, and the rug pulls in the narrative are plentiful and largely surprising. I won’t tell you who the Ghost is but merely that they find that person a lot sooner than I ever imagined they would in a movie like this. Points to writers Brooks McLaren and D.J. Cotrona for finding plenty of ways to freshen up such tried-and-true material as well with their quippy dialogue, cuckoo bird twists, and imaginative ways to utilize the setting of the plane as well as those items discovered to be used as weapons. (Who needs rope when you have seatbelts to strangle the baddies with?)
Madigan and his cinematographer Matt Flannery shoot all the mayhem for maximum bloodletting and silliness. Adding insult to Reyes’ multiple injuries endured throughout the flight are a plethora of hitmen onboard as well as there is a bounty out on the Ghost’s head.
Hartnett gives it his all, and manages to make Reyes believable as a black op, a dangerous drunk, and a smart-aleck wit too. Loads of humiliation are dumped upon Reyes, from his wardrobe to how badly his ass gets kicked by all comers, but Hartnett clearly is having a ball playing such a punching bag. He’s tossed about like a Raggedy Ann doll and every punch, cut and bruise seems to really hurt. Hartnett used to be such a stoic actor, but since last year’s TRAP, he’s loosened up and seems to be having the time of his life. His snappy, bitchy banter with the incredulous flight attendants played by Charithra Chandran, Danny Royce, and Hughie O’Donnell, make it all the more fun a role too.
Sure, FIGHT OR FLIGHT feels like a dozen or so movies you’ve already seen, and it could’ve been trimmed by 10 or 15 minutes, but if you’re going to salute/mock JOHN WICK, DIE HARD, and Jason Statham, at least this one knows how to do it well and keep everyone rolling in the aisles as well as with the punches.
