The 2024 Martial Arts/Action Comedy Fight or Flight takes a page from the 2022 film Bullet Train. While it doesn’t have quite the “star” pedigree that “Train” does, it packs enough frantic action and comedy to make up for it. This one really feels like a cross section of fast paced action films. Regardless, Hartnett kills it here. He and Charithra Chandran make a brilliant Mutt and Jeff” team, sans bald head and beard. Katee Sackhoff is spot on as the cold blooded company head with a past connection to Hartnett’s character.
Fight or Flight Story
A former Secret Service agent must find a rogue mercenary agent with a bounty of $10 million on their head. Once found, the former government agent must protect the mercenary and bring them in alive. Somewhat akin to Snakes on a Plane, the two agents learn the entire plane is full of bounty hunters. All are keen to make a fortune on the contract.
The Cast
Joss Hartnett is Lucas Reyes.
Charithra Chandran is Isha.
Katee Sackhoff is Katherine Brunt.
Julian Kostov is Aaron Hunter.
Marko Zaror is Cayenne.
JuJu Chan Szeto is Master Lian.
Danny Ashok is Royce.
Hughie O’Donnell is Garret.
Let’s Talk Fight or Flight
This is director James Madigan in his third time in the big chair. Taken from a script written by Brooks McLaren and D.J. Cotrona, the film races to its finish. The stunts and the fight choreography, helmed by László Kósa and Balázs Lengyel respectively are exciting and just a quickly paced as the film.
The cinematographer; Matt Flannery frames each shot, however frenetic, with care. Editor Ben Mills puts Fight or Flight together perfectly, apart from that “cameraman in the sunglasses shot.” *But hey, the continuity person should have caught that first.*
Hartnett lacks the sheer charm of Brad Pitt’s hapless “agent” in Bullet Train, but his drunken “master” form of fighting works well. Just as his bedraggled appearance speaks volumes about his battered existence since falling out of favour. Chandran is my new favorite actress. She shifts gears in the film with all the finesse of an seasoned expert. Keep an eye on this young lady, she’s gonna go far.
*Kudos to JuJu Chan Szeto on her impeccable moves and for making it look so easy.*
We have a special shout out to Sackhoff. This actress never disappoints, she has a massive range of characters to choose from. Whether she is playing a doomed housewife (Oculus 2013) or a mercenary in space (Riddick 2013) or a deputy for a cowboy sheriff, this woman kills it. Each and every time.
The Fight or Flight Verdict
Fight of Flight earns a solid 4.5 stars for its entertainment factor alone. Of all the films viewed over the last two weeks, this was the most fun to watch. *It was also the least offensive.* There is a splendid twist in this story and the ending is quite amusing. It is streaming on Paramount + and can be rented via Prime.
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