Review of Runner Runner (2013) by Maksim B — 09 Jan 2014

A mediocre and perfectly forgettable thriller, Runner Runner is a tension-free online gambling thriller, which intrigues with talented cast, but fails to stand out due to its generic and formulaic content. It would probably satisfy younger audiences, fans of online poker and gambling or fans of Affleck and Timberlake, but to more mature audiences this movie would be one of the many mid-level thrillers, starring trending Hollywood actors, but failing to live up to the expectations.

There is no doubt that the fast-growing online gambling is an interesting premise and that Runner Runner has the potential to be more than a mediocre delivery. Richie (Justin Timberlake) is a Princeton college student who pays up his fees by online gambling and recruiting online players, discovers that he has been cheated while playing online poker. Left without option to pay his tuition fee, he decides to head for Costa Rica and to meet the mysterious Ivan (Ben Affleck) who is behind the online company hosting the cheating website. Once in Costa Rica, Richie quickly becomes part of Ivan's super successful company and seems to be poised for success. Soon it becomes clear that he is involved in a dead end game in which either he or Ivan will lose everything.

With multiple sub-plots, scattered throughout the whole movie, Runner Runner cannot generate enough tension and thrills which could properly match the flashy settings and aggressive, hype performances of Affleck and Timberlake. There is a romance; there is a love triangle; there is moral part of the story (investigated by FBI); there is also a troubled father-son relationship. Yet, all of them combined cannot create the feeling of watching a fast-paced, adrenaline-pumping thriller. Lost in its conventional and unintelligent story, director Brad Furman delivers modern mid-level pop thriller, which only benefits from the coolness of its leading actors. This would be considered to be more than enough by some, but more pretentious movie-goers would definitely feel partially let down.

It is unfortunate, that all of the initial potential remains underdeveloped. Runner Runner has the cast , the director (from whom The Lincoln Lawyer was delivered) and an interesting premises, but due to its unfocused story and lack of real tension it is destined to be one of the many mediocre, mid-level thrillers which are forgotten short after seeing them.