It’s obvious why it was overshadowed by more flashy science fiction fare but it’s still worth seeing.
If I asked you to name a movie that was released in 1984 that featured killer robots, your first response would most likely be, “The Terminator.” You’d be correct, but there’s another possible answer: Runaway. Written and directed by Michael Crichton (Westworld,) Runaway has been mostly forgotten when compared to the franchise that spawned from that other killer robot movie.
In a future that resembles 1984, robots are now commonplace in the home and at work. But, like any man-made creation, they occasionally go haywire. Sometimes, they pose a threat to humans. That’s where we meet Jack Ramsay (Tom Selleck), who works for a police department’s “runaway” division. His job is to retrieve and disable those haywire machines and investigate what went wrong with them. His new partner, Thompson (Cynthia Rhodes,) provides a convenient way to introduce exposition and a potential romantic interest in one fell swoop.
After taking Thompson on a few uneventful calls, Ramsay is summoned to a house where a runaway robot has murdered a family. A chip inside the robot was swapped with a mass-produced and illegal variant. Upon investigating the source of the chip, Ramsay and Thompson encounter Dr. Charles Luther (Gene Simmons,) a maniacal genius who wants to sell this technology on the black market. Luther will stop at nothing to avoid being caught and he’ll employ some deadly technology in the process.
Tom Selleck makes for an odd action star especially in the 1980s. Unlike the high-testosterone heroes played by Arnold Schwarzenegger or Sylvester Stallone, Selleck’s portrayal of Ramsay is thoughtful and caring. Ramsay is seen as a doting dad in the scenes with his son, Bobby (Joey Cramer.) He only goes into action hero mode when he is trying to impress a woman — either his partner or Kristie Alley, who plays one of Luther’s cronies — or when he’s forced to protect his son. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that but it is worth noting as unusual for the time.
Crichton’s concept of the future is interesting and the technology he envisioned as commonplace was quite prophetic. (Cell phones, Bluetooth earpieces, iPads, drones, retinal scans, etc.) Nothing depicted here seems unrealistic or fantastic now. Visually, the film’s effects are dated but the actual concepts are sound. Unfortunately, the gadgets and tech are far more interesting than the story and the characters.
Selleck may not be a typical action star but he’s likable as the somewhat nerdy Ramsay. Gene Simmons’ first acting gig outside of KISS showcases his nasty side and he makes an excellent villain. Cynthia Rhodes isn’t asked to do a lot but she has a couple of good scenes with Selleck.
Although it’s a flawed movie and more-or-less a curio in the filmography of all involved, Runaway nevertheless remains entertaining because it is so unlike other action films of the time. It’s obvious why it was overshadowed by more flashy science fiction fare but it’s still worth seeing. Just keep your expectations low.
3.0 out of 5.0 stars
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