Flight Risk (Gibson, 2025)

 Written by Hailey Passmore

After nine years, Mel Gibson’s newest film Flight Risk (2025) is a full hour shorter than his previous, Hacksaw Ridge (2016). From the trailer alone it makes it seems as though this could be a great new action flick, all taking place in the interior of a freight plane. That is entirely not the case. To say it ever so lightly, Flight Risk is a train wreck, or in this case, a plane crash.

Michelle Dockery stars as U.S. Marshal Harris, tasked with escorting government witness Winston (Topher Grace) to trial to testify against a mob boss he has been accused of getting involved with. Transporting a prisoner on a plane may not be easy, however, it is much worse when Harris discovers the pilot (Mark Wahlberg) is actually a hitman sent to assassinate Winston. Able to subdue the hitman, they think all is well until they discover others are still trying to eliminate them.

Directly from the beginning the film gives the audience a CGI taste in their mouth and a bad quality dialogue to go along with it. As audiences witness the capture of Winston and are privy to them boarding the freight plane, the Alaskan landscape feels a bit too fake and though we can tell the plane is real, in some moments it feels like the interior is just a set piece. While yes, this is how films are shot, I do wish there was a bit more done to make it feel more real to the audience. Looking out from the inside of the plane, it feels too much a green screen for where we are with technology now. Then with shots of the plane from the outside, again, the Alaskan landscape is so beautiful, but there is a tiny, edited plane on top of them. It does not feel or look like the plane was actually filmed in Alaska (or a look-a-like of it).

There is one saving grace in the film, and it is in fact not Mark Wahlberg – while he disappoints completely – it is Topher Grace as Winston. There is a comedic element brought to the film through the character and Grace’s execution. For a character who worked for a mobster, he worked behind the scenes, and now being out ‘in the field’ he is scared shitless. Winston is constantly screaming, crying, serving silly one liners, or just livening the mood. Here is where an ounce of laughter was able to shine through.

Gibson did as much as he could for the film, as did its actors – Topher Grace in particular – but not much could be done when given a script so bad to begin with. Sure, the plot could have been interesting if executed correctly, but the minor everyday things that were just too simple or inaccurate let it down immensely. The ease of the plea deal agreed with for Winston, the marks and blood not appearing after hits or cuts from fights between characters, and an inaccurate use of the first aid kit towards the end of the film (a spoiler if I say anymore). Not only that, but Wahlberg’s bald cap did not match his skin tone.

Flight Risk is currently crash landing in cinemas nationally. If you’re one for seeing action films in the cinema, sure, go ahead and watch Flight Risk. But honestly, if you want a good action epic in cinemas, pick something different.

Originally posted on watchedbyhailey.blogspot.com

Photo credits : Lionsgate