Movies about the Cold War can go in all sorts of directions. They can be extremely serious, heavily focused on historical events, or simply choose to deliver some good old-fashioned espionage entertainment. Mayday tries to combine a little bit of everything. The movie wants to be an exciting action film, while also having something to say about the differences between East and West during the Cold War. At first, it is therefore a little difficult to tell exactly which direction the movie wants to take.
Fortunately, that direction becomes increasingly clear as the story progresses. Mayday ultimately chooses entertainment above all else, without treating the Cold War purely as a backdrop. The result is a fast-paced action movie that may not always be particularly surprising, but is certainly a lot of fun to watch.
Mayday Combines Action and Cold War Tension
One of the most interesting things about Mayday is the way it brings different ingredients together. On the one hand, we get light-hearted action and humor, while on the other, the political tensions of the 1980s play an important role.
At first, that combination feels slightly awkward. The movie seems to be searching for the right balance between serious Cold War tension and popcorn entertainment. As the story progresses, however, Mayday becomes more confident about what it wants to be. As a result, the movie becomes not only more consistent, but also more enjoyable.
Had this movie actually been made in the 1980s, it probably would have been a fairly heavy-handed propaganda film. Fortunately, Mayday does not go down that road in 2026. The movie maintains enough distance to avoid simply presenting the West as good and the East as bad.
Mayday Gives Both East and West a Fair Look
The differences between East and West are actually among the more interesting aspects of Mayday. The movie shows that both sides of the Cold War had their own ways of thinking, acting and surviving.
It is refreshing that the movie does not deliberately try to portray one side as the clear winner. Or, at the very least, both sides are given enough room to present their own perspective. This makes the Cold War setting feel more believable and prevents Mayday from turning into a straightforward battle between heroes and villains.
It is certainly not a deep history lesson, but for an action movie, Mayday does a surprisingly good job in this regard.
Mayday and Top Gun: The Comparison Is Inevitable
A comparison with Top Gun is obviously going to be made very quickly. Fighter jets, pilots, military action and plenty of swagger make that comparison almost unavoidable.
The clever part is that Mayday is fully aware of it as well. The movie regularly seems to stay one step ahead of the audience by referencing the comparison itself. This prevents it from feeling as though the filmmakers are simply trying to make another Top Gun.
Moreover, Mayday ultimately does enough differently to establish its own identity. The comparison remains, but it becomes more a part of the fun than a problem.
Creative Action Makes Mayday Surprisingly Spectacular
Where Mayday really scores points is with its action. The movie does not always need massive set pieces to make an impression. It regularly manages to create a spectacular feeling with relatively small-scale action sequences.
A lot of that comes down to the creativity behind those sequences. Not every action scene needs huge explosions, endless chases or massive digital effects. Sometimes, a well-executed idea is enough to create tension and excitement.
That makes the action feel somewhat fresher than you might expect based on the premise.
Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh Make a Surprisingly Good Duo
Ryan Reynolds essentially does exactly what you would expect Ryan Reynolds to do in Mayday. He once again plays the familiar comedic version of himself: witty, confident and always ready with a joke at exactly the moment you expect one.
And yet, it works perfectly well here.
A large part of that is thanks to Kenneth Branagh, who is surprisingly entertaining in his role. While Reynolds primarily provides the humor and lightness, Branagh brings a completely different energy to the movie. The two play very different characters, but that contrast is precisely what creates such an enjoyable dynamic.
Their chemistry works better than you might initially expect. Reynolds gets to be Reynolds, while Branagh provides enough of a counterbalance. The contrast between the two ultimately turns out to be one of the movie's stronger elements.
A Great Pace Keeps Mayday Moving
Another major strength is the pacing. Mayday rarely feels like it is lingering unnecessarily on anything. There is almost always something happening, which helps the movie maintain the audience's attention.
That does not mean every scene is equally important or memorable, but it does mean the movie never really loses momentum. With a runtime that perhaps could even have been slightly longer, it is somewhat ironic that it is mainly the ending that feels too quick.
Mayday's Ending Feels a Little Abrupt
Because once the movie really gets going, the ending arrives relatively suddenly.
It is not that the ending is necessarily bad. Rather, you get the feeling that there was still more story to tell. Another twenty minutes would not have hurt at all. That additional runtime could have been used to further develop certain storylines or give the conclusion a little more weight.
Instead, as a viewer, you are left with the feeling that the movie suddenly decides it is time to roll the credits.
Conclusion: Mayday Is Old-Fashioned Action Entertainment
Ultimately, Mayday is simply a fun action movie. The combination of Cold War tension, humor, creative action and a brisk pace works better and better as the movie progresses.
The comparison with Top Gun is unavoidable, but fortunately Mayday is well aware of that and makes an effort to develop its own identity. The way it handles the differences between East and West is particularly refreshing. The movie does not feel the need to explicitly declare a political winner, and it benefits from that approach.
Ryan Reynolds does what Ryan Reynolds does, Kenneth Branagh turns out to be a surprisingly strong counterpart, and their chemistry creates an enjoyable mix of humor and action. Add several creative action sequences that do not even have to be enormous to feel spectacular, and you have a movie that is simply an entertaining and easy watch.
Only the abrupt ending keeps Mayday from reaching an even higher score.
Rating: 7/10
