Mayday: A good buddy comedy

Plot of Mayday

US Navy Lieutenant Troy “Assassin” Kelly is sent on a secret mission to gather aerial intelligence on Russia, but what seems like a quick mission soon turns into a fight for survival when his aircraft is hit by the Russian Air Force. After surviving the jet crash, Troy finds himself helpless on Russian soil until he is discovered by Nikolai “Nick” Ustinov, who happens to be a huge fan of Top Gun. Nick wants to help Troy escape Russia, but there is one little problem. He is an ex-KGB agent, which makes it difficult for Troy to trust him completely. Will Nick help Troy reach the American embassy, or will his loyalty to Russia get in the way? Find out as Mayday streams on Apple TV.

Is Mayday worth watching?

Yes, I would recommend it because it is light, fun, and has some really refreshing camera work. It is a buddy comedy, and I genuinely enjoyed watching this kind of pairing because the last comedy duo I saw was in In the Grey. The production quality feels premium, and the music and sound effects really amp up the experience, especially during the ejection sequence and the bar fight where Nick single-handedly goes full Road House on an entire gang. There is also something fascinating about watching content on Apple TV on a MacBook, and Mayday looks particularly aesthetic on the screen. Just do not expect a high-end story or a deep message because this is more of a fun family watch, with Ryan Reynolds’ familiar sarcastic personality blending nicely with Kenneth Branagh’s composed and balanced character.

What do I like about Mayday?

The duo, without a doubt. While Troy is a high-energy, sarcastic fighter, Nick is an ex-KGB security manager who can fight just as well but remains calm and subtle even in the worst situations, which reminded me of the Sensei from One Battle After Another. The flow of the movie is decent, and it hardly gives you a dull moment, keeping things entertaining without making the experience feel unnecessarily stretched. I also liked how the film balances the good and bad sides of America and Russia, because there are moments when it feels like a typical American film trying to be unapologetically American by bashing Russia, only for the perspective to shift in the opposite direction later.

Both countries also become the subject of satire, with the film poking fun at certain uncomfortable and taboo aspects of their societies. These moments make you think a little without taking away from the fun, which I appreciated. I would also like to give credit to cinematographer Barry Peterson and screenwriters Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley for the way they have handled certain scenes. Some sequences initially feel like ordinary fast-cut action scenes, but the camera deliberately holds on to the action for longer, making the experience feel much more immersive instead of relying on the usual quick cuts.

The parachute sequence has to be my favourite because, as someone who is scared of heights, I could genuinely feel the fear of falling towards the ground. It was one of those moments when I was not just watching what was happening on screen but actually feeling the experience alongside the character. That is what good visual storytelling can do when the camera work, sound design, and pacing come together, so big ups to the team for making these sequences engaging without constantly cutting away from the action.

Acting

While I love Ryan Reynolds, there is nothing particularly new about his performance here, but he is still fun to watch because his sarcastic, high-energy personality fits the character naturally. Kenneth Branagh, however, was the real winner for me because I found his character much more relatable, especially as someone who is relatively quiet, loves Tom Cruise, and enjoys watching movies, haha. Beyond that personal connection, there is a grounded energy to his performance that makes Nick feel like a real person rather than just another action hero.

I particularly enjoyed the way he expresses his fondness for American cinema while also dealing with his distant daughter, because these moments give his character a little more emotional depth without making the film feel overly serious. His calm personality works beautifully against Troy’s constant sarcasm, and their contrasting energies make the relationship enjoyable to watch. Kenneth Branagh genuinely won me over here, and I think I should explore more of his films because there is something about his performance that stayed with me.

What I did not like about Mayday

While Mayday delivered most of what I expected from it, my only real requirement was a stronger story. I enjoy crisp, fast-paced content, but considering that Troy and Nick are trying to survive in Russia while being pursued by people who want to capture them, I expected things to get much more chaotic. Instead, they seem to fool their pursuers a little too easily, which takes away some of the tension that could have made the experience even better. I wanted more moments that would keep me on my toes and make me genuinely wonder how they were going to get out of the situation.

I understand that the filmmakers wanted to keep things light and entertaining rather than turn this into a serious survival thriller, but I still feel the story could have offered more obstacles and unpredictable situations. That said, this does not stop me from recommending the film because I had a good time watching it, and sometimes that is all you need from a movie. If you are looking for a no-brainer comedy with a fun central duo, some entertaining action, and premium production quality, give Mayday a go. And if you enjoy it, make sure to rate “Watch It” on our app, Wakch.