Mayday review: Ryan Reynolds’ Maverick finds his Goose in Kenneth Branagh’s unlikely ally

Mayday, an Apple TV action comedy and Operation Safed Sagar, a Netflix India period war drama, share a unique starting point - a scenario where an Indian fighter jet crashes in enemy territory, only to find an unlikely ally. In Mayday, US Navy Pilot Troy Kelly (Ryan Reynolds) is sent on a covert mission and crashes in the Soviet Union after his jet is shot down.

He wakes up to find himself tied to a bed surrounded by symbols of America - including a poster of Top Gun. Nikolai Ustinov (Kenneth Branagh), a former KGB officer, becomes his unlikely ally. Despite their contrasting backgrounds, Kenneth Branagh's character is deeply in love with American culture. Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh play their roles in a way that highlights the stark contrast between their identities and the setting they find themselves in.

The film's adventure, involving a moving train, an escape from captivity, and a chase involving a nuclear missile, is reminiscent of their previous work, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. While the special effects and action sequences are top-notch, Reynolds' character isn't overly talkative, instead reacting to the situation.

Branagh's character, Nick, provides glimpses into Russian culture but remains a second-hand account given the dominant American perspective. Both films, despite their different levels of realism, advocate for peace over distrust and harmony over war. The film's takeaway is the importance of comradeship, where even an unlikely ally can be a true friend and protector.