Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Slow-moving political drama has strong language, some sex.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Runner
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Colin Price (Nicolas Cage) is a rising political star, a New Orleans congressman who's making a name for himself trying to help his constituents in the aftermath of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. But then his career is derailed by a sex scandal. Forced from office and with his marriage falling apart, Colin -- who's also an alcoholic -- must try to figure out the next chapter of his life.
Is It Any Good?
THE RUNNER is the kind of movie that seems to have its heart in the right place but doesn't quite come together. Colin Price is a rarity: a politician who actually cares about his constituents and won't kowtow to wealthy corporate lobbyists. While we see his nobility tested again and again, it's hard to really care about him because the film is so slow moving and Cage is so flat in the role.
None of the characters are developed into anything beyond stereotypes, especially Colin's power-hungry wife (Connie Nielsen) and the smarmy donor (Bryan Batt) who pushes him to run for office again. The only interesting character is Colin's dad (Peter Fonda), also a failed politician and alcoholic, who only appears briefly and isn't enough by himself to make this film worth watching.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the appeal of movies about flawed characters. Is Colin a role model? Why or why not?
What role does drinking play in The Runner? Is there a message about addiction? Are there realistic consequences?
How does the movie portray marriage? Do you think Colin and his wife love each other, or are they together mainly to advance their careers?
What do you think about the way Colin's political positions evolve during the course of the movie? Why do his positions change so dramatically?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 7, 2015
- On DVD or streaming : August 25, 2015
- Cast : Nicolas Cage , Connie Nielsen , Sarah Paulson , Wendell Pierce , Peter Fonda
- Director : Austin Stark
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Alchemy
- Genre : Drama
- Run time : 90 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language and some sexual material
- Last updated : September 20, 2019
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate