Runaway

Movie Name: Runaway
Year of Release: 1984
Director: Michael Crichton
Starring: Tom Selleck, Cynthia Rhodes, Gene Simmons, Kirstie Alley, Stan Shaw, G.W. Bailey, Joey Cramer, Chris Mulkey, Anne-Marie Martin, Michael Paul Chan
Genre: Action, Crime
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 2
Watch it on Amazon

Synopsis and Review:

Writer/Director Michael Crichton followed his poorly received "Looker" with another futuristic storyline, much like the successful "Westworld". "Runaway" focuses on the story of Jack Ramsay, a police Sergeant who has been a veteran of the "Runway" squad, one that specializes in robots, following a dramatic case in his past. Jack has just been assigned a new partner, the enthusiastic Karen Thompson, and they're both soon tackling a case where a household robot killed a family. As their investigation drills deeper, they discover the man behind this is a ruthless sociopathic genius by the name of Luther, who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. And that includes targeting Ramsay's own family. It will take all of Jack's resourcefulness, while also overcoming his fears, to stop that threat.

"Runaway" is a detective story, which takes place in a very nearby future, which explains why most of the action taking place, and most of the production design, looks and feels very familiar. The biggest difference is of course the robots and some of the technology that is peppered throughout the narrative. However, the traces of the detective/noir film are all there. The lead detective, his young partner, the ruthless villain, the beautiful (and easily discardable) girlfriend of the villain, the hothead police chief, and the list goes on. The film doesn't really play around with any of these clichés, it merely sets them in motion, and sadly without much of a perspective, or for that matter, humor. It's a film that lacks a stronger point of view in storytelling, and while what it depicts is indeed dated (or obsolete), at its core, the procedural aspect of the narrative, could have been further enhanced, and been the angle to make this film more entertaining and rewarding. Michael Crichton however doesn't really know what to do with the supporting characters, and therefore, the younger police officer, Karen Thompson, is immediately relegated to a love interest role, while Kirstie Alley's Jackie Rogers, after being deemed "very attractive", is quickly tossed aside by the ruthless villain. It's a film that even by the 80s standards, looks and feels out of place, and sadly without much originality. Tom Selleck is a consistently engaging lead, but even him can't save this film. Best to avoid.