“Flight Risk” is the third collaboration between Mel Gibson and Mark Wahlberg. They co-starred in “Daddy’s Home 2” in 2017 and “Father Stu” in 2022. In “Flight Risk,” Gibson is behind the camera in the director’s chair, while Wahlberg is in the pilot’s seat of this action-thriller.
Michelle Dockery, known for her role as Lady Mary Crawley in the acclaimed TV series “Downton Abbey,” plays Madolyn, a seasoned FBI agent transporting key witness Winston (Topher Grace) in a gangster trial.
Wahlberg, sporting a bald guy look, is Daryl, a jittery man of mystery on this small plane flight over the mountains of Alaska. Daryl is the kind of guy you don’t want to invite over for dinner. Everything that could go wrong goes wrong on this troubled flight. None of the characters are who they appear to be.
Wahlberg looks freaky bald, especially since we usually see him with a full head of hair, even in “Perfect Storm” with George Clooney in 2000. Ever since Wahlberg’s breakout role in “Boogie Nights,” he has segued into a bonafide film actor. In “Flight Risk” he gets a chance to flex his considerable acting chops. He’s come a long way since being known for underwear ads.
In fact, all three main actors perform up to snuff, which is the key to pulling off any film, especially an actioner like this.
Gibson, a Best Director Oscar winner for “Braveheart” in 1996 and well known for calling the shots on the controversial “The Passion of the Christ” in 2004, does a good job with “Flight Risk” because he knows what he’s doing as a director. “
Lethal Weapon” fans will want to know that Gibson is rumored to be directing the upcoming “Lethal Weapon 5” after the death of Richard Donner, who directed the first four L.A cop thrillers of the series.
It’s worth your time to see “Flight Risk” in a theater. It’s not a fluff movie. It’s very gripping. People should go out of their way to see this one.
Grade: C+
