The action thriller genre can sometimes be unfairly penalized by viewers and critics, as there are some fantastic and fun-filled contributions to this genre. Mel Gibson’s latest directorial endeavor, Flight Risk, is not one of these movies. Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Dockery, and Topher Grace make up the small ensemble that leads Flight Risk, and it quickly becomes clear that every actor seems to think they’re in a different film. Though the press materials wouldn’t make you think it, Wahlberg has surprisingly little to do. It’s Dockery who tries to keep the story and the plane from crashing and burning.

Dockery is far from the proper halls of Downton Abbey, playing the U.S. Marshal Madelyn Harris, who’s charged with transporting the protected witness Winston (Grace) to safety. We’re told the story’s setting when Winston sighs, “Alaska…,” while shaking his head at a CGI moose outside his window. This opens the film and is a good indicator of what’s to come. Since they’re allegedly so far from civilization, Madelyn and Winston board a rickety plane with Wahlberg’s Daryl as the pilot. We and the characters are in for an emotionally flat and narratively bumpy ride.

Flight Risk Might Be Self-Aware But That Doesn’t Save The Story From Itself

Even Though The Actors Are In On The Joke, It’s Not Very Funny

Though Grace and Dockery, in particular, are desperately trying to act like they’re in a tense life-or-death situation, Wahlberg never wastes his time pretending to be in a serious movie. The threats and dark promises he throws at our unlikely heroes are so over-the-top and ridiculous any semblance of stakes falls flat. In another film, it might be fun to watch Wahlberg give this almost campy performance, but Flight Risk doesn’t have the charm to warrant enjoyment. It’s not just Wahlberg that tanks it, as the terrible script and boring direction are what define the entire project.

Despite the use of heavy-handed exposition and dialogue, we never learn anything truthful or emotionally compelling about the characters. This would be excusable if the action was engaging, but even the fight sequences fall flat. It should be scary to watch Madelyn and Daryl fight in midair, and we should wonder if the plane will crash or if either of them will get hurt. However, there’s never any true risk that the plane won’t land safely or that Madelyn won’t beat Darly back after he rushes her for the millionth time.

The story’s formula is predictable in every sense, even during the few major action-packed moments. However, it was surprising just how few of these sequences there were. Much of the movie comes down to watching Madelyn speak into the headset and be coached through flying the plane. While this is what would logically happen in this situation, it doesn’t make for an interesting story. It’s a shame because the essential premise of Flight Risk isn’t terrible as far as these things go. Having them all on a plane together forces proximity and creates immediate stakes.

There should be more to the film, but at every turn, it disappointed me. Any of the so-called emotional or narrative reveals scattered throughout the story hold absolutely no weight because we don’t care about the characters or what happened to them. During the “shocking” twist, when Madelyn’s dark past comes to light, she’s only at fault for being scared and not for anything else. Grace’s performance is one-note, but so is his character, whose only claim of emotional nuance is being concerned about his mom.

Flight Risk Might Find An Audience But It Will Be Swiftly Forgotten

Viewers Flock To Theaters To Laugh Or Catch The Movie’s Few Thrills

The best, and maybe only, way to get some enjoyment out of Flight Risk is to gather a group of friends and laugh at the nonsensical story that unfolds in front of you. Wahlberg and Gibson are big enough names that Flight Risk will attract an audience at the box office, but no one will remember this movie in the long run. There are legions of films that scratch the same itch and are just as inane but manage to put on a good show. With many great action movies on the horizon, Flight Risk will become a footnote.

While it’s true the movie was never going to be about its characters, nor would it have included well-crafted development or intrigue, it still fails at what it’s supposed to do well. Without well-choreographed action and a sense of stakes, Flight Risk has little to offer. It could’ve had potential and even been fun, with a few changes that might’ve changed its legacy forever. Instead, I’m looking forward to forgetting about it as soon as possible.