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Mark Wahlberghas taken to the skies in an action-filled thriller that may see the actor at his most unhinged. And his performance is wonderful. While his new film,Flight Risk, may bestruggling with critics, Wahlberg’s startling performance as a cheerful and twisted assassin is the film at its very best.
Flight Riskstars Mark Wahlberg (Arthur the King,The Family Plan) as Darryl, a pilot who has been hired to fly a federal agent (Michelle Dockery,The Gentlemen) and her reluctant witness (Topher Grace,Spider-Man 3) as he prepares to testify against a mob boss at trial. 3,000 ft in the air and against the backdrop of the Alaskan mountains, it becomes clear to Madelyn (Dockery) and Winston (Grace) that their pilot isn’t all that he seems. Viewers will already know from the trailer that Wahlberg’s Darryl is an assassin, but watching the actor’s transformation from a jovial every-man to asteely-eyed killeris an exhilarating delight.
Flight Risk
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Wahlberg’s Villainous Turn Steals the Show in ‘Flight Risk’
Mark Wahlberg is dynamic as Darryl. His early portrayal of the character as a spirited though good-natured companion is marked with an easy charm. There is no doubt that Wahlberg has charisma, and he has shown it time and time again (The Italian Job,Daddy’s Home). Although it is not destined to last, this period of good Darryl would have made a fine movie of itself…provided the film had more in the way of obstacles. As it is,a very thin plot coasts under the fury of Wahlberg’s intensity.
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Wahlberg’s unhinged twistas the assassin is the primary force of this film. Sure, the plane doesn’t have a pilot, but the drama of a tied-up and determined Darryl provides more intensity than such a small matter that is resolved quite easily.Cuffed to the back of the plane, Wahlberg stews like a caged animal. His steely-eyed glare is riveting. His random bursts of action speak to a daring unpredictability that hovers like a shadow over the film.
With a devil-may-care attitude, he laughs at the thought of impending death, which helps to make him sucha terrifying villain. How can one reason with someone who does not fear such a finality? While Dockery and Grace’s characters focus on finding a way to survive, Wahlberg’s Darryl is rabidly encouraging their demise even as it means welcoming his own.
A Little More Chaos Could Go a Long Way in ‘Flight Risk’
Flight Riskis at its best when the tension between Darryl, Madelyn, and Winston is at the forefront. The tension between the characters and the anticipation of an eventual showdown is the most exciting element of this film. Unfortunately, it is never truly realized. For all the danger that Darryl represents, his character is side-lined for the majority of the film. This wouldn’t be a problem if the viewer were given a truedisplay of his forcethat is promised by his bluster, threats, and pure chaotic energy. Instead,he is often relegated to a back seat passenger with a list of wishes of what he ought to do.
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It is frustrating to see the film’s greatest threat so waylaid. Wahlberg as Darryl is by far the most interesting aspect of the film. This is no slight to Dockery or Grace, who are both competent players. Grace’s Winston is funny, surprisingly sweet, and an unexpectedly sympathetic character. Dockery’s Madelyn is no-nonsense; her character is a bit harder to warm up to as she carries her trauma on her shoulders. The film works best as it works in the tension between these three characters. However, far too often, the film steps out of this to follow unnecessary characters and lame side plots that are quite literally phoned in. The emotional payout for this film is largely nonexistent, whilethe ending is lazyand unresolved.
BeforeFlight Risk, Wahlberg’s last villainous role was almost three decades ago in the 1996 filmFear, a dark thriller about a sociopathic young man who falls in love with a teenage girl (played by Reese Witherspoon).Although it’s been a long time since the actor tapped into that off-kilter intensity, his scene-stealing turn as Darryl shows that maybe the actor should dip into unhinged more often. Wahlberg’s turn as a wild and steely-eyed assassin is the absolute best part of this film, which offers so much promise but fails in delivery. Dockery and Grace do their best but cannot rise above a faulted and lazy script that neglects the film’s best offering. As great as his performance was,Flight Riskdid not utilize Wahlberg’s character nearly enough.Flight Riskis in theaters now.
