The Stream: Topher Grace is annoying throughout.

The Big Screen: It’s fast-paced and keeps the tension high.

The Final Bill: A silly but fun action thriller.

– Trip Fontaine
Director: Mel Gibson
Writers: Jared Rosenberg
Stars: Michelle Dockery, Mark Wahlberg, Topher Grace
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Rating: R for violence and language
Runtime: 1 hour 25 minutes
Production Companies: Hammerstone Studios, Davis Entertainment, Icon Productions, Lionsgate
Platform: In theaters January 24, 2025
Notable Trailers: Heart Eyes, A Working Man, Drop, The Strangers: Chapter 2, Ballerina

What’s up, Streamers! Well, it’s a small private plane flying from a remote part of Alaska to Anchorage. That was a literal answer to a rhetorical question, but nevertheless, it is appropriate for this review of the action thriller, Flight Risk, starring Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Dockery and Topher Grace. In this movie, Michelle Dockery plays Madolyn Harris, a U.S. Marshall, who is transporting Winston (Topher Grace) from his hideout in Alaska to New York City to testify in a trial against a crime family. Mark Wahlberg plays Daryl Booth, the pilot of the small plane, who has more up his sleeve than Madolyn and Winston bargained for. If you’ve seen the trailer, then you know. Mid-air hand-to-hand combat and learning to fly hijinks ensue.

Flight Risk is exactly what you think it is. It’s a less than 90-minute-long action thriller where the plot is obvious. But is it thrilling and fun? Sure. Because the movie is so short, it doesn’t waste a lot of time with backstories and character development. The movie gets to it in heart-racing, tension-filled moments, and it keeps the audience engaged by being fast-paced and simple. Because the plot is so familiar, the movie relies on the actors to add that extra something to make it interesting. I found Topher Grace annoying for most of the movie. He’s doing that motormouth, quick-witted thing, but you just want him to shut up. Mark Wahlberg turns on the crazy. It’s a physical and outlandish performance. He understood the assignment. Michelle Dockery gets to be the steady center of the movie. She does well and makes you root for her.

Overall, it’s a silly movie, but I can’t say it’s not entertaining.

While Flight Risk is a fun movie, it is not essential viewing. If you choose to go to the theater to watch this, I think you would enjoy it; but, this is also the kind of movie that plays over and over on basic cable. Thus, it is basic with a capital B. It’s short, the actors are good, and it will raise your heart rate, but I can’t justify spending any money at the theater for this one. I say it’s a handful of popcorn – just watch it when it appears on streaming in a couple months.