The Running Man (1987)

Ever watch a flick that you saw as a kid and at the time you thought it was the coolest thing, only to watch the same movie years later and realize it wasn’t so grand after all? Today’s movie in question, 1987’s “The Running Man” was that type of film to me. In a future world where big brother controls virtually every aspect of life, Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a cop who refused to go along with some nasty orders (shoot and kill some unarmed civilians) and is thus thrown into prison for his insubordination. Here in jail he hooks up with some “resistance” types who are trying to overthrow the evil one world government, and along with his new friends he joins in on a successful riot against the prison he’s held in. During his escape, a sleazy game show host played by Richard Dawson ("Hogan’s Heroes", "Family Feud") sees a tape of Arnold in action during his breakout and is determined to have him as a contestant on his show, “The Running Man”. The show in question is a state sponsored gig in which various “criminals” are thrown into a bombed out part of the city where the face various “stalkers” who are out for their heads. Survive the stalkers, and you win the game. Soon enough Arnie is picked up by the cops and finds himself, along with two other buddies from prison, as unwilling contestants on the show. Of course, in true Schwarzenegger fashion Arnie promises Dawson that he’ll soon “be back” and the next ninety minutes we’re treated to a sometimes exciting, sometimes plodding, and at all times rather stupid piece of filmmaking

It’s not that I did not enjoy this flick; it’s just that certain parts seemed rather clichéd and tired at times. I wish I had been able to score a copy of the book to read before hand to watching the movie, cause I’m sure it’s vastly different than the film. Action wise, Arnold is Arnold, you either like the guy or you don’t. Personally, I’ve always dug him and his stupid one-liners, no matter how corny they are, and you get your fair share of them here, trust me. The action scenes of Arnie fighting the various stalkers are well done, though if at times somewhat anti-climatic. Each stalker has various strengths, for instance there’s a dude named “Buzzsaw” who is a master of the chainsaw...you get the idea I’m sure. Be sure to look for Jesse Ventura in a hilarious role as “Captain Freedom”, who’s a retired ex-stalker...good shit there my friends. Richard Dawson however, really steals the show as the sleazy and arrogant host of “The Running Man”, and his performance was a true highlight for me. You really grow to hate the sonofabitch as the flick moves on. Other than that though, there really is not much else to heap praise upon. The story has many pitfalls in it, such as why would the “state” keep it’s master computer hook up in the deserted territory of the game show, where any contestant could fuck with the wires and such...shouldn’t that type of stuff be kept under top guard? I also could have gone without the annoying Latino “love interest” for Arnie, was that broad in the book anyone know? She was extremely annoying and served no point other than to be annoying, which she was immensely. “The Running Man” is not a terrible film or anything, but like I said at the top, it’s one of those flicks that you remember as being real cool only to find out years later it’s just not so. Sucks to get old huh?