In Theaters and Digital

Ryan Reynolds hasn’t quite pigeonholed himself yet as Hollywood’s dopey-yet-amiable doofus, but he’s definitely standing in line at the Goofball Store with money in hand. I mean, look at his recent roles in the Deadpool films and, to some degree, Project Hail Mary. The guy just knows how to “kooky” his way into our hearts.

And that sentiment continues with his latest film, Mayday, the Cold War-era action comedy now playing on AppleTV. It’s an odd-couple actioner that works! But it works primarily because of the chemistry on display between Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh. It’s an otherwise loosely-based-on-actual-events adventure that is ambitiously silly, frequently makes no damn sense, and occasionally features some sketchy CGI. But the double-act drive of Reynolds and Branagh keeps this thing airborne and makes Mayday deserving of all the attention it’s receiving.

Reynolds plays hotshot U.S. Navy pilot (“Yes, Navy… airplanes and boats. It’s confusing. Just go with it.”) Troy “Assassin” Kelly, whose top-secret mission flying an SR-71 Blackbird into Soviet territory goes spectacularly wrong, leaving him stranded behind enemy lines.

His unlikely lifeline is Nikolai Ustinov (Branagh), a former KGB agent with an unexpected fascination for American culture. Forced to trust one another despite standing on opposite sides of the Iron Curtain, the mismatched pair embark on a dangerous and increasingly ridiculous escape while Soviet forces close in.

There’s a lot to like here, including some well-choreographed fights, terrific flying sequences, and enough nail-biting action to remind us that directors Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley - the guys behind Game Night and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves - know exactly how to mix comedy with genuine tension. But the single factor that keeps Mayday aloft is the unlikely chemistry between Reynolds and Branagh.

They play off one another wonderfully. Reynolds works his familiar dry sarcasm while Branagh counters with Nikolai’s wonderfully practical approach to solving problems. Sometimes that means offering some homespun wisdom. Sometimes it means beating the living shit out of somebody. Impressive work from the old man!

Branagh is especially delightful. He gives his Nikolai a brilliant wit and unexpected warmth, while his fascination with American culture (particularly his admiration for Top Gun) is genuinely sweet. But Goldstein and Daley never let us forget there’s a dangerous former KGB operative underneath all that charm. Nikolai can go from lovable uncle to brutally efficient killing machine faster than Maverick can request a flyby.

There’s also considerably more heart here than we might expect. Troy’s relationship with his ailing father gives Reynolds opportunities to dial down the Reynolds-ness, while Nikolai’s daughter Anna (Maria Bakalova, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm) adds another welcome layer to the film’s emotional core.

Mayday covers a ridiculous amount of ground and is occasionally all over the damn place. Yet it’s well-paced, funny, heartfelt, intense, and enormously entertaining. Goldstein and Daley understand exactly what kind of movie they’re making. They aren’t trying to reinvent the action comedy; they’re simply throwing two enormously charismatic actors into an increasingly absurd situation and letting them cook.

And somehow, against all aerodynamic logic, the damn thing flies.

It’s currently all the rage over on AppleTV. Head over there to check it out and be one of the cool kids.

MPAA Rating: PG-13.
Runtime: 110 mins
Director: Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley
Writer: Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Kenneth Branagh; Maria Bakalova
Genre: Action | Comedy
Tagline: A Firnedship with Major Red Flags
Memorable Movie Quote: "In America, we just have a... like a Snoopy balloon. Thanksgiving. So boring."
Distributor: AppleTV
Official Site:
Release Date: September 6, 2026
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
Synopsis: Lieutenant Troy Brennan's reconnaissance mission over Soviet territory goes awry, forcing him to crash-land and survive in Russian wilderness while evading capture or rescue.