Runner, Runner Review Roundup: Critics Call Justin Timberlake-Ben Affleck Film "Charmless," "Trashy"

Movie reviewers are being less-than-kind to the new action flick opening in theaters on Oct. 4

By Peter Gicas Oct 03, 2013 4:48 PMTags
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It seems like Runner, Runner may not be your best bet this weekend.

The reviews are coming in for the new action flick starring Ben Affleck and Justin Timberlake, and the majority of critics didn't exactly like what they saw.

The film, also starring Anthony Mackie and Gemma Arterton, finds Timberlake playing a Princeton student who dives into the world of online gambling and winds up in a bit of trouble after teaming up with Affleck's wealthy businessman.

Here's a sampling of what the critics are saying...

• "Despite [its] stacked deck of a cast, Runner, Runner adds up to a little more than a charmless, paint-by-numbers thriller," writes Andrew Barker of Variety.

• "An uncompelling, sketchy telling of an intriguing crime story," notes the Hollywoood Reporter's Todd McCarthy. "A work lacking both style and insight into the netherworld it seeks to reveal."

• "Affleck almost makes this Internet-gambling drama worth slogging through; Justin Timberlake not so much," states Alonso Duralde of The Wrap. "Provides the world with very little except some great clips for Ben Affleck's eventual Golden Globe Life Achievement reel."

• "This is a lazy, trashy film that barely goes through the motions," offers Xan Brooks of The Guardian.

• "Should you take a punt on gambling thriller Runner, Runner? The high-stakes plot, glossy locations and even glossier cast certainly look tempting, but stump up the cash and you'll probably come away feeling cheated," writes Movie Talk's Jason Best.

• "Justin Timberlake and Ben Affleck give their best poker faces, but ultimately fail to convince you to gamble your cash away on this limp, unoriginal story of a man out of his depth," remarks Stephen Kelly of Total Film.

Runner, Runner hits theaters on Friday.