The Running Man

A Schwarzenegger flexathon which dissipates its limited energy with relentlessly unfunny self-parody and a completely ludicrous romantic interest. It's almost like “Sleeper” meets “The Terminator.” Actually, the latter picture is a good example of what this picture should have been like--deadly serious action. Instead we get Arnold (who is never seriously threatened by any of the bad guys he is forced to dispose of) cracking wise like a musclebound James Bond as he overcomes one adversary after another. The set-up is decent--should have got better treatment, but the violence is mediocre, the suspense is minimal, the humor is lame, and the social satire is weak. (A poor man's “Robocop.”) Quite frankly, I wouldn't bother. Do a double feature of “The Terminator” and “Robocop” instead.