Deadline-driven action adventures have become commonplace, and these often follow predictable patterns; you can usually guess where things are headed, even if the route taken is somewhat surprising. This new film from director Kevin MacDonald, who’s generally a skilled filmmaker, unfortunately falls short of expectations. When London criminal defense lawyer Maia Marten (Gal Gadot) begins her usual morning run before an important trial, she receives a phone call seemingly from her young son, Noah (Rory Wilmot). Answering it, she learns the call isn't actually from him but from an unidentified person (Damian Lewis) who has kidnapped Noah and threatens to kill him unless Maia follows his instructions precisely. The kidnapper wants her to murder a key witness in the case against his former employer, a wealthy mobster accused of killing two young women. To guarantee she complies, he claims to be tracking her location through her cell phone’s GPS. This means she must remain visible and public while running five miles across London within an hour to reach the hotel where the witness is being held before his transfer to court. Thus begins Maia's journey across the city, a route full of unexpected events, excitement, and revelations about her personal history, including some long-held secrets. But can she manage it? (Take your best guess.) Throughout this unfolding situation, there are numerous instances that strain believability, even for someone as capable as Wonder Woman. These kinds of stories usually require a certain amount of suspension of disbelief, but many events in this plot-filled story are simply hard to accept. It’s true the film is presented with sharp editing and fast pacing, along with some creative camerawork that beautifully captures London's streets, yet these elements can't hide the serious problems with the script. With stronger writing and more careful consideration of the plot, “The Runner” could have been an enjoyable summer distraction, but it seems destined to be little more than a way for those involved to earn money, adding another disappointing release to Amazon Studios’ track record.

Source on TMDB