After revisiting the 1987 original last month, I caught Wright’s remake opening night with high hopes. Big mistake.
The fatal flaw? Setting your “sci-fi” in 2025 while aping ’80s neon aesthetics makes it neither futuristic nor retro – just confused. Deepfakes aren’t impressive when the 1987 version already predicted them first. The story changes closer to King’s novel than the Arnold movie, but execution trumps faithfulness every time.
At 135 min, this thing drags like a marathon runner hitting the wall at mile 20. Cut 30 min and you might have something. Wright’s usually kinetic style feels sedated – where’s the energy that made Baby Driver crackle?
Glen Powell looks great and moves well, but he’s got all the charisma of lukewarm oatmeal. You need star power to anchor a film like this, and Powell simply doesn’t command the screen. Meanwhile, Colman Domingo is having a blast as the game show host, making you wish he was the protagonist instead.
6.5/10: Watchable, forgettable, and 30 minutes too long.
