By Runner is the kind of action thriller that wastes very little time getting its heroes into trouble. Alan Ritchson plays Hank Malone, a former war hero and courier who accepts a seemingly simple assignment to transport a donated liver across Brisbane, Australia. When a powerful criminal family decides it needs the same organ to save one of its own, Hank and the talkative Ben Bishop, played by Owen Wilson, suddenly find themselves in a race against time with armed pursuers determined to stop them.
Ritchson proves once again that he can handle action at the highest level, and much of that confidence clearly comes from the experience he gained playing Jack Reacher. As Hank, he combines the physical power audiences expect with a more restrained performance that gives the character genuine humanity. Hank is not looking for trouble, but once the chase begins, he knows exactly how to deal with it. Whether he is fighting through an ambush, escaping a pursuit, or protecting the liver at all costs, Ritchson looks completely comfortable carrying a movie built around constant action.
Owen Wilson is perfectly suited to Ben, giving the character the fast-talking personality and comic timing needed to balance Ritchson’s more serious presence. Wilson has played variations of this energetic, slightly chaotic personality before, but that familiarity works here because Ben is exactly the kind of character who can keep the movie entertaining between the explosions and fights. His chemistry with Ritchson gives Runner the feel of a classic action-comedy partnership without allowing the humor to completely undermine the danger.
Rodrigo Santoro provides the film’s primary threat as Damian Zaldívar, a ruthless criminal determined to obtain the liver for his dying family member. While Damian is not the most complex villain in the genre, Santoro gives him enough authority and menace to keep the chase moving, particularly as his men begin closing in on Hank and Ben.
Director Scott Waugh understands the assignment perfectly. Having previously worked on films including Act of Valor, Need for Speed, 6 Below: Miracle on the Mountain, and The Expendables 4, Waugh has considerable experience with action, and Runner allows him to concentrate on what he does best. The result is one of the better action films to arrive recently, particularly because it does not bury its best material beneath unnecessary subplots.
The Australian setting is another major advantage. Brisbane and the surrounding locations are not simply interchangeable backgrounds; the film uses Australia’s roads, urban environments, coastlines, and distinctive landscapes to give the chase its own identity. Runner is a great example of how Australia can be used as an action-movie setting without trying to make it look like another American city.
The stunt work is strong throughout, with vehicle chases, shootouts, crashes, and hand-to-hand fights delivering the physical impact expected from a modern action thriller. Waugh’s camera generally keeps the action readable, allowing Ritchson’s physical performance and the practical movement of the vehicles to remain the focus rather than hiding everything behind excessive editing or digital effects.
For anyone looking for a genuinely entertaining action movie, Runner deserves attention. Alan Ritchson demonstrates that his Reacher experience has prepared him for leading action at the highest level, Owen Wilson is perfectly cast as his unlikely partner, and Scott Waugh makes excellent use of Australia as a cinematic playground. It may not have the budget of a major blockbuster, but in terms of action, chemistry, pacing, and sheer entertainment value, Runner is one of the strongest action films seen recently.
