Kenneth Branagh and Ryan Reynolds star in "Mayday," a new action-comedy set in 1987 that centers on an unlikely alliance between an ex-KGB agent and a U.S. Navy pilot.
Branagh portrays Nikolai Ustinov, a Russian expatriate living in the woods who, despite his past, is a fervent admirer of the United States, largely influenced by the film "Top Gun." His solitary existence is interrupted when Lieutenant Troy "Assassin" Kelly, played by Reynolds, crash-lands in his territory after being shot down on a black ops mission over the Soviet Union in a Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird.
Recognizing Kelly from "Top Gun," which he claims to have watched over 100 times, Ustinov decides to help the pilot evade capture and return to the U.S. The dynamic between the two characters forms the basis of the film's buddy action-comedy narrative.
Reynolds' character, Kelly, embodies a typical sarcastic and confident persona, mirroring the archetypes found in "Top Gun." His character exhibits a particular aversion to what he deems unpleasant faces. However, reviewers suggest that Branagh's Ustinov is the more developed character, providing the film's emotional core and comedic elements, with Reynolds primarily serving as a reactive counterpart.
The film is directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, known for their work on "Game Night" and "Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves." Their directorial style often infuses genre films with an irreverent, self-aware tone, highlighting both the action elements and the inherent humor of 1980s action movies.
"Mayday" has been noted for its comedic approach to Russia and geopolitical tensions during the Cold War, though its release comes at a time when such themes are particularly sensitive. Marcin Dorociński appears as Alexander Volkov, a KGB officer tasked with pursuing Kelly. The film is rated PG-13 for violence, action, strong language, suggestive references, and smoking. It has a running time of 112 minutes. The movie is available for streaming on Apple TV.