The new Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh film, "Mayday," streaming on Apple TV+, explores the age-old debate between collectivism and individualism, offering a subtle critique of American exceptionalism. Directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, the movie stars Reynolds as Troy, a U.S. Air Force pilot who crash-lands in Soviet Russia in 1987.
Initially, Troy embodies American ideals, espousing the virtues of capitalism and expressing animosity toward Soviet rule. He articulates this in a conversation with Army buddies, stating, "Collectivism is always the cost of individual freedom." This dialogue signals that the film aims for more nuance than a typical "Russia bad, America good" narrative.
When a spy mission goes awry, Troy finds himself injured and reliant on Nikolai Ustinov (Branagh), a Russian carpenter who idolizes American capitalism and dreams of living in the U.S. Troy strikes a deal with Nikolai: help him escape Russia, and Troy will arrange passage to America. Their journey leads them to seek shelter from a poor Russian family.
Despite Troy's apprehension, Nikolai approaches the family, who readily welcome and feed them. Nikolai shares that the family is impoverished, prompting Troy to question why they would offer aid. Nikolai, still holding an idealized view of America, asks, "If someone came to the door in America and asked for help, wouldn’t they be taken in?"
Troy's delayed, hesitant, and nervous response of, "Of course they would!" serves as the film's central, albeit understated, critique. The audience understands Troy's uncertainty, highlighting a contrast with the family's collective spirit. The scene suggests that in 1987 America, under Reagan's presidency, the prevailing mentality was one of self-interest, where "a man’s home is his castle" and resources are reserved for oneself and one's family.
This moment is the film's closest approach to endorsing collectivism and indicting individualism. While Troy later admits his country is not "perfect," this single scene powerfully illustrates how the spirit of sharing and collectivism, principles Troy initially dismissed, may have been essential to his survival. Although "Mayday" ultimately adheres to the "evil Russian villain" trope, this well-timed joke injects a significant level of nuance into the action-comedy genre, particularly for a film funded by a major American corporation.