"The Running Man" was one of my most anticipated films of the year. I am one of those people who think Glen Powell has what it takes to be a movie star, especially after charismatic performances in "Twisters" and "Hit Man." I also am a sucker for the 1987 version of this movie, an action movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as the lead instead of Powell, and I was excited to see how this adaptation compared. Especially since it seemed to be a truer adaptation of Stephen King's 1982 novel (written under the name Richard Bachman) than the Governator-led version.
So imagine my surprise when I left the theater after two hours and 13 minutes feeling ... well, nothing. That's not to say I was disappointed; this movie is fun, features some enjoyable performances and is a slick, polished action thriller. But, perhaps because of its polish, it feels soulless, as if it were a paint-by-numbers blockbuster rather than living up to the potential of its source material.
