Archive · 6 Sep 2026
Mayday Review Finds Easy Humor in American-Russian Buddy Comedy
Mayday is a comedy set during the Cold War in 1987.
An American pilot named Troy crashes in Russia during a mission.
A former Russian spy named Nikolai saves him.
At first, Troy thinks Russians are all enemies and Americans are always right.
Nikolai shows him that ordinary Russian people are much like ordinary Americans.
The two men must work together to escape a dangerous KGB agent.
Their adventure includes jokes, action, and a missile-launcher getaway.
Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh play the two friends.
The movie suggests that people can understand one another even when their countries disagree.
Mayday follows American Navy pilot Troy after he crash-lands in Russia in 1987.
Former KGB operative Nikolai rescues Troy and helps him evade KGB agent Alexander.
The film uses their escape to challenge Troy’s belief that ordinary Russians are fundamentally different from Americans.
Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh receive praise for their restrained performances and strong chemistry.
The 111-minute Apple TV comedy offers a light Cold War story without fully resolving American-Russian hostility.
- Who
- US Navy pilot Troy, former KGB operative Nikolai, KGB agent Alexander, and the actors Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh are central to the story.
- What
- Mayday is a 111-minute American-Russian buddy comedy about Troy and Nikolai escaping together after Troy’s aircraft crashes.
- When
- The story takes place in 1987, one year after the release of Top Gun.
- Where
- Troy crash-lands in Russia and travels with Nikolai during their escape.
- Why
- The film uses their relationship to question the demonization of Russians and American assumptions of superiority.
- Genre
- American-Russian buddy comedy
- Setting
- 1987, during the Cold War
- Runtime
- 111 minutes
- Lead actors
- Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh
- Key supporting actors
- Marcin Dorocinski and Maria Bakalova
- Directors and writers
- Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley
- Platform
- Apple TV