The Running Man

Release Year: 1987

Director: Paul Michael Glaser

Review: "Who Loves You, and who do you love?!"  This is my favorite lines from one of my favorite 80's action movies.  'The Running Man' is based on a Stephen King novel set in a future where government controls media.  One of the most popular shows is a reality program in which death row inmates compete for their freedom.  All they have to do is survive being stalked by trained killers.

Watching the movie back again revealed a lot of flaws.  It is painfully stuffed full of 80's cliches, cheesy dialog and stiff acting.  All of this can be forgiven though.  Its a flat out fun movie.  From beginning to end its packed full of action.  Over the top action to be sure, but its done in a way where it manages not to be annoying.  The concept is brilliant.  We get Scharzenegger basically as a super hero, who turns the the tables on the oppressors.  It's an underdog story, where the underdog gets to lop the bad guys heads off.  

The feel is very much like a professional wrestling match.  You get the over the top theatrics, gaudy costumes, specialized weapons, custom arenas and gratuitous violence.  It's dumb entertainment, but its true to itself.  There is something satisfying watching Scharzenegger decimate each stalker one by one, and watching the crowd gradually start to root him on.  It seamlessly is able to be a shallow action flick as well as something with a bit of meat.  For all the brainless camp, it also gives commentary on exploitation in the media.  It may be a guilty pleasure, but I can't help but watch this every time it comes on.
Rating: 3.5/5

Comments

[Shaun]

This was classic 80’s action cheese though, with a twist of lime. These were the movies that my generation grew up with; I think I saw every Arnie film when it came out, and several times since. Not because they are good, but they are cheesy and hilarious to watch. Like the never ending AK-47 clip in Commando, or the Porsche in Commando. This movie was no different except I don’t think there was a never ending clip of ammo, but you had a rather large opera singing light bulb fanatic, a chain saw wielding mad max motorcycle wanna be, and an oversized sumo hockey player, what more could you want? Last years winners… oh no Fireball made them last years losers right before he got fired. I recently signed up for the blockbuster @ home package, and much to my wife’s chagrin, we are watching Arnie for a while. I mean I checked all the streaming channels we get with the plan first, and they weren’t there, so I had to queue up all the Arnie flicks so I can have the guys over and we can enjoy our cheesy 80’s flicks.