“Runaway” (1984) Podcast Movie Review

By Daniel Barnes on March 30, 2021

Runaway (1984) – Dare Daniel Podcast Episode 85

“Now kiss your ass goodbye!”

Daniel and Corky don their electro-magnetic scatter-suits to review Tom Selleck as a robot-hating cop in Michael Crichton’s Runaway. A cliched cop movie with the tiniest sliver of a sci-fi twist, Runaway barrages you with wooden dialogue and hacky choices.

Elsewhere, Daniel and Corky discuss dense packs, Rebecca De Mornay comparisons, evil guy meetings and girder-bots.

NEW DARE

Savage Bees (Rebecca B.)

RUNAWAY (1984) FACTS AND FIGURES

Daniel’s craft spirit: New Alchemy Distilling‘s White Devil Whiskey (40% ABV)

Corky’s craft beer: Lead Dog Brewing‘s Who’s Gettin’ It? white stout (7% ABV)

U.S. theatrical release date: Dec. 14, 1984

Worldwide box office: $6.7 million (production budget: $8 million)

Critics scores: 50 on Rotten Tomatoes

This week’s darer: Johnny Flores

IMDB synopsis: “In the near future, a police officer specializes in malfunctioning robots. When a robot turns out to have been programmed to kill, he begins to uncover a homicidal plot to create killer robots…and his son becomes a target.”

This week’s referenced movies: The Wicker Man (2006); Batman (1989); Star Wars; Flashdance; Dirty Dancing; Staying Alive; Doctor Detroit; Reds; The Last Emperor; Runaway Train (1985); Cobra; Jurassic Park; the Police Academy movies; Backdraft 2; Vertigo; L.A. Confidential; Heartbeeps; Think Big; Swamp Thing; The Wizard of Oz; Grudge Match; Flight of the Navigator