Friday, January 24, 2014

JACK RYAN: SHADOW RECRUIT (2014)


Genre: Thriller
Running length: 1:45
Cast: Chris Pine, Kiera Knightley, Kevin Costner, Kenneth Branagh, Lenn Kudrjawizki, Alec Utgoff
Director: Kenneth Branagh

JACK RYAN: SHADOW RECRUIT is a summer style blockbuster - Read: a thriller/action movie with car chases and shootouts starring who's who of today ie. safe, predictable and boring. I remember enjoying the earlier Jack Ryan movies because there is always this trademark high tension scene where the fate of America rests squarely on the shoulders (and quick thinking) of Jack Ryan. There is a similar scene here but the premise of it requires the audience to suspend all disbelief when it comes to Jack and his significant other in an espionage plot *roll eyes* The script isn't clever enough to elevate it to a place that makes this 'origin movie' feel like it's revitalizing the genre like what Casino Royale did to the James Bond series. Chris Pine is fine as he has the presence and physicality of a "Jack Ryan 2.0". Kevin Costner is solid in the "mentor" role - a part that seems well-suited to him at this stage of his career. Kenneth Branagh's villain is serviceable. However, Kiera Knightley seems to be miscast or I just find her distracting whenever she appears on screen.

Rating: 5/10

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