Alan Ritchson’s New Action Thriller Fixes the Biggest ‘Reacher’ Problem

It’s been a big month for Alan Ritchson, with Reacher Season 4 underway and his new action thriller, Runner, hitting theaters on Sept. 11. Ritchson has been at the center of a number of action-packed titles over the last few years, from his hit Prime Video series to films like Runner, Motor City, War Machine, and Playdate. It’s easy to see why he’s building such a name for himself in the genre. From the actor’s physical presence — he’s over six feet tall and maintains an action-star build — to his gruff charm, he’s an obvious pick to helm such action adventures.

And Runner puts his strengths on full display, allowing him to partake in shootouts, car chases, hand-to-hand fights, and other explosive sequences. The film sees his character, an ex-military courier, getting wrapped up in an organ delivery that’s intercepted by the cartel. He and Owen Wilson’s Ben Bishop race to get the liver they’re carrying to a dying little girl, all while fighting off their pursuers. The two play off each other nicely, giving Runner a buddy-cop vibe that’s really entertaining to see. The movie goes beyond that, though, allowing Ritchson to embrace a side of his acting that Reacher should really show more of.

Alan Ritchson’s ‘Runner’ Gives Him the Emotional Runway That ‘Reacher’ Should

The New Action Film Shows Off a Whole New Side of the Actor

The action sequences and unlikely partnership between Ritchson’s Hank and Wilson’s Ben make Runner tick, but one of the most refreshing parts of the movie is Ritchson’s emotional range. When we first encounter Hank, he has a quiet and intimidating demeanor, similar to the one Jack Reacher is known for. However, the film allows us to go deeper into Hank’s character, establishing early that he has a personal stake in the mission at hand. Since he and his ex-wife lost a daughter to leukemia, it’s not hard to understand why he’s so committed to getting a desperate mother and her dying child the liver they need.

And although Reacher gives Ritchson’s lead a few small moments of vulnerability here and there, Runner really allows the actor to lean into Hank’s grief. Sure, there’s no over-the-top screaming and crying, but Ritchson’s performance allows us to see all the cracks in Hank’s hardened exterior. That’s especially true as his bond with Bill evolves and the pair are thrust into further danger.

The film highlights what Reacher is missing out on, as Ritchson is incredible at toeing the line between intimidating, snarky action hero and a more vulnerable man whose losses have shaped him. Jack Reacher’s stoicism is true to Lee Child’s books, but it’s clearly wasting a whole side of the actor’s talents. And after multiple seasons, it would be nice to see something affect Reacher‘s lead similarly. Yes, his impenetrable demeanor is part of the charm, but there’s only so long a person can be untouchable and interesting.

Runner proves there’s a better balance to strike, even in a project where the primary appeal is shooting guns and throwing punches. Hank is more interesting because of his softer interior, and his lethal and competent takedowns of his enemies prove more surprising as well. There’s emotion behind his determined strength, and it makes us care whether he wins the fights he’s wrapped up in. His vulnerabilities also create real concerns about him losing. It makes for a tense affair, and those stakes could benefit Reacher.