Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh Stall in Mayday Review

Filmmakers Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley have a reputation for delivering hits, but their latest effort, Mayday, misses the mark. The film follows a U.S. Navy pilot, played by Ryan Reynolds, who crashes behind enemy lines during the Cold War. He is rescued by a quirky ex KGB agent portrayed by Kenneth Branagh. While the premise sounds like a fun ride, the execution feels like a first draft that never quite takes off.

Ryan Reynolds leans heavily into his familiar sardonic wit here. While he is certainly a capable actor, the role feels like it was designed to protect his superstar image rather than tell a compelling story. Because the characters lack genuine depth, it is hard to care about their bond, even when the movie tries to tug at our heartstrings with backstories about their families.

On the bright side, the action scenes are well shot and easy to follow. Goldstein and Daley still know how to frame a sequence, and Kenneth Branagh is clearly having a great time playing the oddball Nikolai. He brings a sincerity to the role that almost saves the relationship between the two leads from feeling entirely hollow.

Ultimately, Mayday lacks the infectious energy and charm of the directors' previous works. It relies too much on 80s nostalgia and surface level jokes instead of building a strong narrative foundation. While there are a few laughs and some solid choreography to enjoy, the film remains a forgettable experience that stalls before it ever really gets going.