Mel Gibson directed Flight Risk, but it does not fly high. It is a thriller set in one setting that is rushed with mediocrity. My senses told me it would be a hit-or-miss experience, especially with a slated release date of October (2024) and then forwarded to now. The delay in its release stands corrected. Flight Risk is a mess of suspense with poor writing, characterizations, and a horrid foundation.

The film gears on a fugitive, Winston (played by Topher Grace). He is to go on trial, and his air marshal is Madolyn (played by Michelle Dockery). Their pilot is Daryl (played by Mark Wahlberg). Their flight is going over the wilderness of Alaska. Once they are in the sky, red flags begin to arise. Winston and Madolyn see signs of a questioning personality with Daryl. Also, he becomes abusive. Therefore, Winston and Madolyn must figure out how to keep themselves from crashing with the aircraft or battling with Daryl. Also, with Winston (as one who is a criminal), the level of trust lies in the balance of the film’s suspense.

The title and the cast are the appeal of Flight Risk. The conflict is what is the blur. The criminality part has little explanation, and the problems in the plane are boring. There are a few moments that have audiences jump. Its quality is like it belongs to a reality show in a TV movie. It is challenging to take seriously.

With Wahlberg (as the bad guy), he is the one who brings in the vindictive vengeance danger to the aircraft. With Grace and Dockery (as the protagonists), it is like Three Stooges meets Con-Air. Flight Risk lacks authenticity and big means of awry.  Flight Risk continues down its path of a disaster setup.

The film leaves many questions. What is the crime of Winston? How many charges are there? How did all the legalities begin? Why is Daryl the pilot to question? There is not much means of a foundation. Its audiences do not have much background to the upbringing of the conflict in and of itself.

The plane flies in hurdles. It is not shot vividly to create enticing entertainment. There are some moments of sharp turns, but other than that, all the conflicts are inside the plane. There is no place to escape, and only inside the plane is the boredom of time wasted in Flight Risk.

What came to my mind was the other films directed by Gibson. He is one that is known to push the envelope of violence. I wonder if this one was lighter because of going into production with his next project The Passion of the Christ. It is like he decided to direct a thriller in the sky before the intense process of his next biggest project. Regardless, Flight Risk did not display realism or in-depth moments like his other fascinating projects. I would rather revisit Braveheart or Hacksaw Ridge to feel “the envelope of violence” again. I rate Flight Riskone-in-a-half out of four stars.