Mel Gibson’s “Flight Risk” opens with a wanted fugitive being arrested while hiding out in Alaska.
The U.S. Marshal who slams the cuffs on Topher Grace’s Winston is Madolyn (Michelle Dockery. She hires a private plane to fly her and her fugitive to New York, where Winston must testify in a high-profile criminal trial.
Madolyn employs a pilot named Daryl (Mark Wahlberg) who seems gregarious and professional. The trio take flight, the plane lands safely and without incident. The three have long, fulfilling lives and live happily ever after.
The End.
Just kidding.
Actually, things go badly from the jump. The pilot and the two passengers are hiding all sorts of secrets, and a deadly battle for control of the plane takes place while flying over dangerous terrain.
“Flight Risk” demonstrates how, after three heavy-going and terrific epic dramas in a row, Gibson, the superstar actor-turned-director, is having fun. That sense of playfulness is both an asset (this is a B-movie, take it or leave it) and a mark against it (after “Hacksaw Ridge,” “Apocalypto” and “The Passion of the Christ,” I couldn’t help but expect more from Gibson).
As much as I enjoyed “Flight Risk,” it has a major problem: even at a reasonable 91 minutes, it still has filler. The second act is so dialog-heavy, it drains the suspense, unloads unnecessary character exposition and bloats what should have been a brisk ride.
“Flight Risk” has a riveting start, an overly drawn out mid-section and a finale that delivers the goods. Then it keeps going after it should have ended.
It’s also bookended by CGI that wouldn’t fool a child.
Gibson can’t make this Hitchcockian, but he at least keeps it on the level with enjoyable popcorn junk food like “Turbulence” (1997) and “Cellular” (2004). That may sound like faint praise, but I like those movies.
However, a film that beats them all is Phillip Noyce’s “Dead Calm” (1989), the still-great, three-person, one setting thriller that “Flight Risk” ought to have matched. “Dead Calm” keeps audiences on edge, even with repeat viewings (the combo of Sam Neill, Nicole Kidman and Billy Zane remains incredibly potent).
In terms of casting, “Flight Risk” gets its central trio exactly right. Wahlberg excels in the kind of role Gibson himself probably could have played earlier in his career (imagine his wonderful character in “Conspiracy Theory,” only with the crazy knob turned up to 11).
Grace somehow manages to make his annoying character endearing over the course of the story. It’s still Dockery’s movie. The “Downton Abbey” star gives the most layered and intense turn.
Considering the forcefulness and effectively scary choices Wahlberg makes here, Dockery’s ability to go head-to-head with him (sometimes literally) is impressive. Wahlberg has been wonderful before, but Dockery deserves more lead roles after this.
“Mark’s got the madman in him…” Mel Gibson on his new movie Flight Risk- releasing today. On the Arroyo Grande Podcast he discussed the casting of Mark Wahlberg and why the star went bald for this role. The full episode is here- Subscribe and Like it: https://t.co/pONOfHJeQ5…… pic.twitter.com/CnDQOBTg4a
— Raymond Arroyo (@RaymondArroyo) January 24, 2025
Gibson manages in the pacing and editing to provide enough cuts to the plane’s exterior, preventing this from becoming genuinely claustrophobic. The sense that the three main characters are trapped and surrounded by the threat of death at all times comes through.
If it sounds like I’m asking too much of the director, again, remember that Gibson also made “Braveheart,” one of the few Best Picture winners that I’m always happy to revisit, the harrowing “Hacksaw Ridge” and “Apocalypto.” That jaw dropper is so fierce and accomplished (and my pick for Gibson’s best), even his detractors couldn’t deny how awesome it was.
This isn’t a knock but just the hard truth – Gibson’s low-key but emotionally resonant directorial debut “The Man Without a Face” (1993) is a stronger film than “Flight Risk.”
There’s a lingering shot of a bloody, shackled hand that reminded me of both “Braveheart” and “The Passion of the Christ.” Is this Gibson’s signature shot? Maybe not. I hope Gibson keeps directing and has more films on the way.
The long-rumored sequel “The Passion of the Christ” would really be something. For now, we have Wahlberg in Wile E. Coyote mode, visibly having a ball.
You could do a lot worse in January.
On a personal note: I saw the film with my dad, a licensed pilot who used to fly a Cessna aircraft. My father noted the wildly implausible moment where the plane flies through a snowbank unscathed and without crashing.
When it ended, we both agreed the film was fun but could have benefitted with a lot less chatter and more white-knuckle thrills.
Two and a Half Stars (out of four)
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