MOVIES THAT SUCK. “The Running Man.” / “Sharp Stick.” / “Lie with Me.”

“The Running Man” (2025, Apple TV+) dystopian science fiction action thriller. This topsy-turvy mash-up (sic!) isn’t really the second adaptation of the 1982 novel by Stephen King nor does it follow the 1987 film, which starred Arnold Schwarzenegger. The base story is the same, a deadly competition on television, but all the rest is an entirely new shenanigan. 



       Starring Glen Powell as a blacklisted laborer, director Edgar Wright (from a script that he wrote with Michael Bacall) gave us instead a pretentious actioner that is both silly, contrived, and un-original. Mr Powell, who was really funny and smart in 2023’s “Hit Man,” is a wasted scooby-doo in this farce. Others in the cast, who normally deliver fine entertainment: Josh Brolin, Colman Domingo, William H. Macy, and Emilia Jones are nothing but talking-heads. Forget that I never really liked Lee Pace and Michael Cera.

       And what do we expect? This exhausting 2 hours and 21 minutes of a rollercoaster ride was a box office bomb, grossing $68.6 million worldwide on a budget of $110 million. 🎭👎🎬


“Sharp Stick” (2022, Tubi) sex comedy film written, produced, and directed by Lena Dunham. Follows a naive, sexually inexperienced 26-year-old woman who begins an affair with her older, married employer and subsequently starts to explore her sexuality. 


       I got the overall message of this scattered “sexual newbie” yarn. Only, I couldn't place if this is supposed to be funny, sarcastic or serious. Confused, that's the word. Maybe if Ms Dunham tries venturing in other subject matter other than sex or sexual politics, she can showcase her hidden talents. 🎥💻📽


“Lie with Me” (2005, Roku) Canadian erotic drama film about an outgoing, sexually aggressive young woman who meets and begins a torrid affair with an equally aggressive young man. 


       The film contains graphic, un-simulated sexual content, which is basically the come-on of this movie. However, those scenes, real or not, aren't a big deal. Lauren Lee Smith as Leila and Eric Balfour as David don't exude any form of erotic chemistry. This movie literally sucks! 🎥💻📽

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