I honestly couldn’t think of a better January movie to cleanse the palette of award season than Flight Risk. Heading into the theaters, I was hoping for an action-packed, over-the-top, and fun ride. Did Mel Gibson and Mark Wahlberg deliver? I share my thoughts on the film and let you know if it’s worth checking out on the big screen.

A U.S. marshal boards a small plane to transfer a government witness to New York. As they cross the Alaskan wilderness, tensions start to rise as not everyone on the flight is who they appear to be.

Flight Risk Movie Review

From the moment we saw Daryl (Mark Wahlberg) enter our screens, I knew that we were in for a treat. I don’t watch trailers, but from the few excerpts on social media Flight Risk seemed like it would be my jam. However, I didn’t know that Wahlberg was playing the villain, not the hero. With this, Wahlberg had FUN in the role of Daryl, delivering a performance we hadn’t seen from him yet.

With a hilarious accent, goofy mannerisms, and comedic timing we hadn’t seen since his days in Pain & Gain, Mark Wahlberg was top-notch as a villain. There are several scenes where you are watching Wahlberg as Daryl, and you would swear he is breaking character, but it was just him having a blast. His banter and one-liners were brilliant. Please give me more of him in these types of roles in the future.

Another performance I loved was Topher Grace’s. He played Winston, the computer nerd who moved money for a bad guy and is being transported to testify against his boss. It’s a simple role, but Grace is effective with his portrayal. The writing of Winston’s arc as the film develops is vital in keeping you invested in the movie, and Grace helps bring that to life.

Mel Gibson knows how to capture your attention behind the director’s chair. One of the more under-the-radar aspects of how he shot this film was the claustrophobic effect that I didn’t see coming. Most of the movie is shot inside the plane, so when things start to unravel, he makes you feel the intensity.

A shocking element of this film I didn’t expect was for it to be as funny as it was. Jared Rosenberg’s ability to perfectly write comedic moments when the film needed them was remarkable. From Daryl’s schtick to operator that helped land the plan to Winston’s freaking out, I laughed way more than I expected.

Is Flight Risk worth watching?

Ultimately, if you are looking for a brisk, easy, and fun time at the theaters, go check out Flight Risk on the big screen. A chef’s kiss of a runtime, action to keep you on the edge of your seat, and comedy to make you laugh; it was everything I wanted it to be and more. Check it out on the big screen, and I hope we get more from the Gibson/Wahlberg combo in the future.