FIGHT OR FLIGHT: 3 STARS. “high-concept nonsense fueled by brawn not brains.”
SYNOPSIS: In “Fight or Flight,” an adrenalized comedy thriller now playing in theatres, Josh Hartnett plays disgraced secret agent Lucas Reyes. In exile in Thailand for two years, he accepts a job escorting a cyber-terrorist named The Ghost on an international flight to the United States. “Deliver him to us alive,” says his CIA handler Katherine (“The Mandalorian’s” Katee Sackhoff), “and you get your life back.” Trouble is, there is a bounty on The Ghost’s head, and the flight is packed with assassins who want to collect. “Are you telling me that plane is full of killers?”
CAST: Josh Hartnett, Charithra Chandran, Marko Zaror, and Katee Sackhoff. Directed by James Madigan.
REVIEW: A check-your-disbelief at the Concession Stand kind of movie, “Fight or Flight” is an hour of all out action at 37,000 feet. You might wonder how the passengers—all killers of some sport—manage to smuggle weapons—everything from Uzis to chainsaws—on board. If so, this isn’t a movie for you. It’s a buy the ticket, take the ride action flick with a silly premise and a sense of fun. Nothing more, nothing less.
As familiar as the idea of one man against an army of hitpersons is, Reyes is no John Wick. Hartnett, with dyed blonde hair and perpetually hungover look, finds the sweet spot between world weariness, ruthless brutality and dark humor. The kills are fierce—champagne flute to the eye, anyone?—and nicely choreographed for the small space aboard the aircraft. It’s not as slick as “Bullet Train,” or as elegant as “John Wick,” but there’s a b-movie scrappiness to it that feels right. Especially after Reyes is hit with a dose of toad venom that changes his perspective on everything.
“Fight or Flight” is fun, high-concept nonsense fueled by brawn not brains.
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