Mayday is a Cold war adventure story about an unlikely rescue, friendship and survival. When Lieutenant Troy Kelly ends up in Soviet territory forced down by his own plane, he uncovers a new partner in Nick Ustinov, a former KGB agent who’s lost his faith in the world he fled. The perilous journey to freedom provides the impetus; the tension between military duty, political suspicion and personal conscience adds gravitas to the film, rather than a chase story. The premise is elevated and sometimes bizarre, and the central conflict is whether or not trust can cross an enemy line keeps the adventure from being too far-fetched.
The best parts of the film are the developing relationship between Troy and Nick. Some distinctions make each choice fraught with uncertainty, but as they become vulnerable to one another, badgering contingency becomes genuine bonding. The film brings in a poignant family element with Nick’s attempt to get in touch with his daughter, and also a tense one with Troy’s resentment because of the treatment of his father by the Navy. There’s a decent amount of danger with the action, whether it’s outsmarting the Soviets or running for one’s life, but it does add up to a few plot twists at times more than the action can manage to make seem believable. The Cold War backdrop provides for an atmosphere, even if the big picture of politics isn’t much more than a plot device.
I was left with a sense of warmth under the suspense of the film. Ultimately, Mayday is about men and women choosing to be compassionate rather than loyal – and about finding common ground in places they might never have expected. A friendship between Troy and Nick elevates the emotional content of the story, and moments of reconciliation are as significant as moments of action. The ending is a nice release, although the quick and somewhat improbable story line might challenge die-hard realism fans. Mayday is an entertaining distraction with a sincere tone, and a hopeful one, too.
