REVIEW: "Mayday"
Courtesy of Apple TV
Buddy comedies have been putting unlikely pairs together for years, usually people who shouldn’t even share a car, let alone trust each other with their lives. The formula rarely changes, but finding the right mismatched duo can make it feel fresh. Mayday finds a winning combination in Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh. The movie throws a wary American fighter pilot and a genial former KGB agent together in Cold War Russia. One wants nothing more than to get home, while the other can hardly believe an American action hero has landed in his backyard. Watching them find common ground and connect is what drives this funny, warmhearted action-adventure.
Set in 1987, the film follows U.S. Navy pilot Troy “Assassin” Kelly (Reynolds), who is shot down on a secret mission over Soviet territory and finds himself stranded behind enemy lines. His unexpected lifeline is Nikolai Ustinov (Branagh), a former KGB agent whose deep love of American pop culture makes Troy’s arrival feel like a dream come true. Troy desperately needs a way home, and Nikolai could be his ticket out, but trusting him proves trickier.
Writer/directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein know the escape keeps things moving, but it’s the growing friendship between the two men that gives the story meaning. Troy’s suspicion keeps bumping up against Nikolai’s enthusiasm, creating a very funny dynamic between a man desperate to leave and one who’s happy to have company. As they frustrate, surprise, and eventually rely on each other, their relationship feels real. The movie lets those moments happen naturally, without losing sight of the ticking clock and the people who are chasing them.
Branagh is the clear standout here. His love for Top Gun drives much of the movie’s humor, but there’s something touching about a lonely man who has shaped his idea of America around a movie he adores. Branagh gives Nikolai warmth without making him seem like a pushover. He’s also a surprisingly good action star. Watching him tackle fight sequences unlike anything he’s ever been asked to do before is one of the movie’s biggest pleasures. His physicality sells Nikolai’s dangerous side, and his enthusiasm makes his sudden bursts of violence even funnier. It’s obvious he’s having a great time, and that enjoyment is contagious.
Reynolds deserves a lot of credit for knowing when to step back here. His signature comic timing is still there, but it’s noticeably tamped down, and the movie is better for it. The humor comes more from Troy’s awkwardness than from Reynolds leaning into his usual shtick. By letting Branagh handle the bigger comic swings, Reynolds gets to do something new: react, listen, and let his character show some flaws. Together, they find a natural rhythm that makes their friendship feel real.
The action scenes also feel meaningful. The fighting and fleeing give these men reasons to reevaluate each other, and that’s what helps the comedy fit with adventure. Daley and Goldstein are great at turning familiar stories into something really fun. Between Game Night, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, and now Mayday, they’re three for three at crafting dynamic crowd-pleasers.
There are a few missed opportunities here. It’s nice to see Maria Bakalova appear as Nikolai’s estranged daughter, but she doesn’t get much to do. That relationship could have added more depth to Nikolai’s character without slowing the movie down or taking away from the fun. Some plot twists are easy to guess, and a few jokes go on too long. While those missteps keep Mayday from joining the ranks of the genre’s very best, they don’t make the proceedings less fun.
It’s too bad this movie is arriving on Apple TV instead of getting a proper theatrical release. Theaters could really use a big, crowd-pleasing comedy like this, one that’s meant to be enjoyed with a big group. Still, the film’s warmth and the chemistry between the two leads make it a must-see, worth watching from the comfort of your couch. While Reynolds spends most of the movie trying to escape Soviet territory, Branagh makes you wish you could stay a bit longer.
Mayday is currently available to stream on Apple TV.