While they may not always mix, comedy and thrills can sometimes be a potent recipe for an enjoyable movie. Attempting to combine these elements, Send Help is the latest movie from cinema legend Sam Raimi. Written by Damian Shannon and Mark Swift, this film is a fun watch despite its uneven pacing.

Stranded on a desert island, a woman and her overbearing boss must look past their differences to make it home alive. The film stars Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien. They are supported by Edyll Ismail, Xavier Samuel and Dennis Haysbert.

Send Help is a movie with a good beginning, a mediocre middle and a solid ending. At its best, it explores the dynamic between Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien’s characters. McAdams shines in this regard and practically carries the movie on her back. Put into a survival situation, her character is well-developed and fits effectively into the ever-changing landscape she finds herself in. Unfortunately, the premise does wear thin once we enter the second act.

The further along we get in the 113-minute runtime, the closer the movie gets to “boring” territory. This is not to say that any sequence is poorly written or badly performed, but viewers will be left wanting more from the events that unfold. You rarely really feel scared for McAdams or O’Brien, and never are they presented with an interesting threat. While the film is centred on their relationship, a further development of the survival scenario would have breathed some much-needed life into the picture.

Once the film reaches its climax, the story does kick back into gear, but one cannot help but think that this feature would have been better suited with 20-30 minutes cut from it. This would have tightened the plot, eliminated the second-act pacing issues and ensured we reach the finale promptly without losing character development.

With so many good films being released each month, Send Help is a difficult release to recommend. While Sam Raimi does deliver many moments of fun, the total package does not equate to a movie that will blow anyone away. That being said, you could do far worse than picking this film as your watch for the night.