The Cold War Comedy Conundrum: Why 'Mayday' Feels Like a Missed Opportunity
There’s something inherently appealing about blending Cold War tension with buddy comedy antics. On paper, Mayday—Apple’s latest action-comedy starring Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh—sounds like a slam dunk. But after watching it, I’m left with a nagging sense of 'what could have been.' Personally, I think the film’s biggest flaw isn’t its ambition but its execution. It’s like the filmmakers had all the right ingredients but forgot to add the secret sauce.
A High-Concept Premise That Fails to Soar
Let’s start with the premise: a downed U.S. pilot (Reynolds) teams up with a disillusioned KGB agent (Branagh) to escape Soviet Russia during the 1980s. It’s Midnight Run meets Planes, Trains & Automobiles with a dash of Top Gun. What makes this particularly fascinating is how it tries to recapture the spirit of 80s action-comedies, a genre that thrived on high-stakes hijinks and unlikely partnerships. But here’s the thing: nostalgia alone isn’t enough to carry a film.
From my perspective, the problem lies in the uneven balance between action and comedy. The action sequences are undeniably slick—Daley and Goldstein clearly know how to choreograph chaos. But the comedy? Sporadic at best. Reynolds delivers his trademark snark, but it feels like we’ve seen this version of him too many times. Branagh, meanwhile, seems miscast. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a brilliant actor, but his Nikolai feels more like a caricature than a fully realized character. If you take a step back and think about it, someone like Bob Odenkirk or John Malkovich might have brought the right blend of humor and edge to the role.
The Chemistry Problem
One thing that immediately stands out is the lack of chemistry between Reynolds and Branagh. Their relationship feels forced, like two actors reading lines rather than two characters forging a bond. This raises a deeper question: Can a buddy comedy succeed without genuine camaraderie? In my opinion, the answer is a resounding no. Compare this to Midnight Run, where Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin’s dynamic felt electric, or Planes, Trains & Automobiles, where Steve Martin and John Candy’s odd-couple chemistry was pure gold. Mayday tries to replicate that magic but falls flat.
The Action Outshines the Humor
Here’s a detail that I find especially interesting: the action sequences are so well-executed that they almost feel out of place in a comedy. The train chase, the May Day parade, the missile launcher—these scenes are visually stunning but lack the heart and humor that should anchor them. It’s as if the filmmakers prioritized spectacle over substance. What this really suggests is that Mayday isn’t sure what kind of movie it wants to be. Is it a high-octane thriller with comedic beats, or a comedy with high-stakes action? The result is a film that feels schizophrenic, never fully committing to either tone.
The Nostalgia Trap
What many people don’t realize is how hard it is to pull off 80s nostalgia without veering into pastiche. Mayday leans heavily on its setting—the Cold War, the pop culture references, the Top Gun homage—but it never transcends its influences. The fighter jet sequences, for instance, pale in comparison to Top Gun: Maverick. The visual effects, while polished, lack the gritty authenticity of the era they’re trying to evoke. If you’re going to riff on the 80s, you need to bring something fresh to the table. Mayday feels more like a greatest hits compilation than an original album.
A Forgettable Affair
In the end, Mayday is amusing but forgettable. It’s not a bad film, but it’s not a great one either. What this really suggests is that even talented filmmakers like Daley and Goldstein can stumble when they bite off more than they can chew. Personally, I think the film’s biggest missed opportunity is its failure to lean into the absurdity of its premise. Imagine if it had embraced the over-the-top humor of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves or the heart of Game Night. Instead, it plays it safe, resulting in a film that’s neither laugh-out-loud funny nor pulse-pounding thrilling.
Final Thoughts
If you’re a die-hard Ryan Reynolds fan or a sucker for 80s nostalgia, Mayday might offer a few laughs. But for everyone else, it’s a middling affair that fails to leave a lasting impression. What this really suggests is that in the crowded landscape of streaming content, mediocrity isn’t enough. We crave films that take risks, that surprise us, that make us feel something. Mayday had the potential to be one of those films, but it never quite takes off.
/Film Rating: 6 out of 10
Mayday is streaming on Apple TV on September 4, 2026.
