Advertised as a high-octane thriller, and marking the return of Mel Gibson to the director’s chair, Flight Risk sets out to rekindle the adrenaline and suspense of those beloved ‘90s action thrillers like Air Force One and Con-Air. Unfortunately, it only flirts with that potential before crashing and burning in a giant fireball of missed intentions.
Despite its tantalizing premise, an Academy Award winning director in Mel Gibson, and a trio of solid actors in Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Dockery, and Topher Grace, Flight Risk fails to deliver on its high-stakes promise, instead struggling under the weight of tonal inconsistencies, an uninspired plot, and some truly shoddy execution.
From its opening minutes, Flight Risk teases us with a glimmer of hope. The setup, from a spec script by Jared Rosenberg is undeniably intriguing—Daryl, a cocky bush pilot (Wahlberg) is tasked with transporting a chained government fugitive named Winston (Grace) alongside an armed Deputy Marshal, Madison (Dockery) across the icy expanse of Alaska. It is essentially three actors cramped inside a tiny space battling one another in a deadly game of psychological warfare. There’s nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. So, let’s go over how this thing misses its mark so badly?
Tension builds appreciably at first, playing effectively on our innate fear of flying and the tightening claustrophobia of being trapped inside the cockpit of a small commuter plane. However, once that initial suspense wears off and the actors begin to act, the narrative quickly loses altitude, devolving into an aimless mess with no parachute for the audience to bail.
One of the film’s biggest blunders is its blatant identity crisis. Mark Wahlberg, an actor who can be charismatic and compelling under the right direction, adopts an over-the-top personality that teeters uncomfortably between unhinged and totally absurd. Watching him growl and grimace one moment and descend into unintentional gum-smacking, backwards-ball-cap-wearing camp the next is bewildering—and not in a fun way.
On the flip side, Topher Grace’s character leans too heavily into poorly timed comedic bits, complete with quirky comments that totally undercut the urgency of the situation. Rather than welcomed moments of peace from the thrill ride, these tongue-in-cheek bits are eye-rollingly laughable.
Dockery, meanwhile, is playing in a completely different movie altogether. Her restrained, razor-edged seriousness adds some gravitas, but it clashes harshly with her co-stars’ chaotic energy. Together, the trio adds up to a tonal mess, making it nearly impossible to invest in their survival or the stakes of the mission.
Then there’s the plot—or rather, the lack of one. Much of the runtime is spent confined to the cramped airplane cabin, tossed back and forth between repetitive arguments, implausible twists, and poorly choreographed moments of action – not to mention numerous gunshots and stab wounds that fail to do damage. While the claustrophobia and fear of flying are marginally effective early on, the novelty wears thin as the film drags on.
To add insult to injury, the film's insistence on attempting too many “gotcha” moments comes across as lazy rather than clever. The “not everyone is who they seem” element is over used rather than earned, and by the time the big reveal lands, it’s hard to feel anything other than indifference.
Ultimately, Flight Risk is an exercise in missed opportunities. With an inherently dramatic premise and capable actors, this thing should have soared. Instead, it plummets. Despite a few moments of palpable tension and an initial intriguing setup, the film is bogged down by an uninspired plot, disjointed performances, and second-rate production. Thriller fans, do yourselves a favor—revisit the high-flying tension of Red Eye or the unapologetic fun of Snakes On a Plane instead. Best to leave Flight Risk on the tarmac.
MPAA Rating: R.
Runtime: 91 mins
Director: Mel Gibson
Writer: Jared Rosenberg
Cast: Michelle Dockery; Mark Wahlberg; Topher Grace
Genre: Action | Thriller
Tagline: Y'all need a pilot?
Memorable Movie Quote: "I don't want to be raped by the bald guy."
Theatrical Distributor: Lionsgate
Official Site:
Release Date: January 24, 2025
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
Synopsis: A pilot transports an Air Marshal accompanying a fugitive to trial. As they cross the Alaskan wilderness, tensions soar and trust is tested, as not everyone on board is who they seem.
