Alan Ritchson and Owen Wilson sharing an action movie sounds like a casting gamble. Does Runner know what to do with them?
Runner is a 2026 action thriller directed by Scott Waugh, whose credits include Need for Speed and The Expendables 4. It pairs Reacher star Alan Ritchson with Owen Wilson and adds a streak of buddy comedy.
Ritchson plays Hank Malone, a former soldier working as a courier in Australia. His assignment is to transport a donor liver to a seriously ill girl, accompanied by medical courier Ben Bishop. A cartel wants the organ too. A time-sensitive delivery becomes a chase where every delay puts lives at risk.
The setup takes little explaining, which suits the film. Runner needs no elaborate mystery to get us involved. A child needs help, and two men have to get through. What matters is whether we care about their journey. Ritchson brings more to that task than his imposing build.
A hero with vulnerability
Hank is trying to rebuild his life. He is learning French, working on himself and hoping to avoid trouble. Ritchson makes his kindness feel unforced. It gives Hank vulnerability without making his fighting ability any less convincing. We want this man to succeed before he starts knocking opponents out of his way.
Wilson provides a useful contrast as the talkative Ben. His relaxed manner rubs against Hank's tense concentration, generating the better comic moments. Not every joke lands, and Ben could use more depth, but Wilson's timing helps enormously. Gradually, the irritating passenger becomes somebody Hank feels responsible for. That growing attachment does more for the film than the individual punchlines.
Action with weight
Waugh also knows how to put Ritchson's physical presence to work. The fights use their surroundings, the blows have weight, and the car chases deliver plenty of momentum. The violence is surprisingly rough alongside the casual humour. That combination keeps Runner lively. We can enjoy the pair's company while still believing that the danger around them matters.
Where the machinery creaks
The machinery does occasionally creak. Obvious digital effects rob some stunts of their impact. The screenplay pauses for explanations when every minute is supposed to count. Rodrigo Santoro's antagonist supplies pressure but remains a familiar gangster figure. A little more individuality would have helped make the pursuit as memorable as the men being chased.
Hank's assignment has more interesting implications. Protecting somebody gives him a chance to use his abilities constructively and allow himself to trust again. The action therefore has an emotional purpose, particularly through his relationship with Ben. But when the film presses its message too hard, understandable feelings give way to overblown heroism. The performances have already made the point without needing quite so much emphasis.
Verdict
Runner turns a familiar story into an entertaining action outing. Ritchson carries the fights, Wilson gives him a worthwhile partner, and their journey has enough heart to matter. It lacks the consistency of a great genre film, but earns a clear recommendation and seven out of ten.