Runner Runner DVD Review

Justin Timberlake and Ben Affleck lead a stellar cast through a game of cat and mouse, where the outcome is painfully transparent from the get go. It’s not a new story, and there isn’t a single twist that isn’t seen a mile away, but that doesn’t diminish Affleck’s performance that impresses just a smidge.

Richie(Justin Timberlake), a Princeton college student who pays for Princeton with on-line gambling, is on the cusp of winning more than just tuition money when he bottoms out and travels to Costa Rica to confront the on-line mastermind, Ivan (Ben Affleck), whom he believes has swindled him. With the help of Ivan’s right hand girl, Rebecca (Gemma Arterton), he gets some facetime with the elusive Ivan. With statistical proof that he was cheated in hand, he leaves a lasting impression. Ivan sees a kindred spirit in Richie and brings the younger man into his operation, imparting his “wisdom” upon him.  

Although Ivan promises Richie his every desire, Richie soon finds the price too steep. As the stakes get incredibly high and dangerous, and Richie comes to fully understand the deviousness of his new boss, he tries to turn the tables on him.

While Timberlake may be the star its Affleck’s Ivan and the overzealous FBI agent played by Anthony Mackie that truly steal the show. Affleck is charming enough, that even when he’s being devious you almost want to give him the benefit of the doubt. The entire thing is so beneath him, and yet he’s the only one that looks like he’s having fun. You can’t help but root for the guy. Mackie’s Agent Shavers finds the perfect balance between desperation and justice that makes for a strong driving factor to make him not quite an ally or villain to Richie. The one character that just seemed like an utter waste is Arterton’s Rebecca. She’s savvy and sexy, but she can’t possibly be that in the dark and so close to Ivan. Her character is more of a prop than anything else.

Don’t expect a deep story or a thriller by any means. Runner Runner is entertaining, but lacks any twists that would make it exceptional. If you’ve seen any gambling movie, where the little guy goes to take down the house, you’ve seen Runner Runner’s storyline. The scorching cast can’t save the subpar script, the foreshadowing is so heavy handed that there’s no thinking needed.

Runner Runner is rated R and available now on dvd.