Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh star in “Mayday,” a new action comedy directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein. The film, now #1 on Apple TV, follows U.S. Navy pilot Troy Kelly, played by Reynolds, after his spy plane is shot down over Russia. He is rescued by ex-KGB agent Nikolai Ustinov, portrayed by Branagh, who seeks asylum in the U.S. in exchange for helping Kelly reach safety.
Reynolds’ character is described as similar to Tom Cruise’s “Top Gun” persona, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, but with a more altruistic motivation: he breaks rules to help fellow pilots. After being shot down while piloting a spy plane, Kelly lands in the care of Ustinov, a retired ex-KGB operative with an obsession with America, evidenced by a “Top Gun” poster in his cabin. Stranded over 2,000 miles from the nearest border, Kelly learns rescue is unlikely, especially with warmongering KGB agent Alexander Volkov and his forces pursuing him.
Ustinov proposes guiding Kelly to the American consulate in Moscow in exchange for asylum for himself and his estranged daughter, Anna. However, Kelly’s mission is secret, creating obstacles to obtaining U.S. assistance. Forced into a partnership, the two attempt to reach safety before being captured or killed. Despite shots that would be impossible to film practically—such as a camera moving under an SR-71 Blackbird—the film is praised for its cinematic quality. The review notes that, despite its quality, the film’s streaming release may relegate it to being forgotten quickly.
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