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When a film is bumped from a high-profile release date (like Christmas) to a notoriously dry time of year (like January), it’s rarely a good sign. So when Kenneth Branagh’s Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit got the bump, movie buffs feared the worst. But while the latest incarnation of Tom Clancy’s popular franchise certainly wouldn’t put up much of a fight against the best holiday hits or the biggest summer blockbusters, it’s still an entertaining spy thriller.
Branagh’s Jack Ryan origins story stars Chris Pine as the young agent, a former naval lieutenant who’s recruited by the CIA after he’s injured during active duty in Afghanistan. A decade later, he’s working covertly from his finance job on Wall Street, quietly keeping track of international economies during the day before going home to his fiancée, Cathy (Keira Knightley), each night.
But then, one day, he’s called to action. After he uncovers what could be a Russian plot to collapse the U.S. economy, he’s sent to Moscow to look into it. But when Cathy shows up for a surprise visit, it complicates both his mission and his relationship.
Despite its dreaded release date bump from Christmas to January, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit is still a generally enjoyable spy thriller. The story is tense and action-packed, with an intriguing premise—and, let’s face it, for those of us who grew up during the Cold War, it’s fun to see the Russians playing the bad guys again. Branagh’s Viktor Cheverin may be about as stereotypical as ruthless Russian villains get, but it’s an entertaining performance nonetheless.
One of the film’s most glaring problems, then, is its overplayed relationship drama. While Knightley’s Cathy appears to have been included in the film solely to help develop Jack’s character—to show his softer side—she’s really more of a distraction. The last thing a spy needs is a suspicious girlfriend hounding him about where he’s been and why he’s not thrilled to take her on his business trip. And even though you’ll understand the character’s frustration, she generally comes off as whiny and aggravating.
In the end, Branagh’s latest just doesn’t live up to some of his earlier films—whether it’s the Shakespearian drama of Much Ado About Nothing or the action and adventure of Thor. The action often feels awkward—and even stilted at times. And although it sometimes tries to be grand and dramatic, the drama tends to feel forced.
Of course, as far as brainless action movies go, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit does exactly what it’s supposed to do: entertain. It may be flawed, but it’s still suspenseful and fun. So as long as you can overlook the flaws—and as long as you’re not expecting a classic Branagh adventure or a non-stop, Jason Bourne-style chase—you’ll find it easy to get caught up in the international intrigue of this spy thriller reboot.
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