Jack Ryan, as a young covert CIA analyst, uncovers a Russian plot to crash the U.S. economy with a terrorist attack.
All the Jason Bourne fights, car chases, topical nods towards economic fearfulness and spy games and bomb countdowns are crisply executed, but this is a pretty average action film, made slightly better by an earnest Pine, and more fun by Branagh and his wodka-sloshed accent.
In stripping Jack Ryan back to basics it’s lost some sophistication, but reinvigorated an action hero who’s unlike any other on offer and who absolutely earns his second — or rather fourth — shot.
Coupled with Ryan’s wholesome, all-American Boy Scout values, what emerges is a less interesting hero and overall experience.
It’s just Blah. Jack Blah.
Pacy but unexceptional thriller
Some impressive dramatic work does little to dull the sense of deja vu.
A solid outing for a re-Bourne hero that could, with a few key tweaks, generate another round of vehicles for the Clancy cash cow.
Shadow Recruit certainly isn’t terrible or worthless, but it’s far from the Jack Ryan movie we were hoping for.
It feels fairly ordinary. And yet, that’s not necessarily a bad thing: like Jack Ryan himself, sometimes, ordinary can be effective.
For all its gadgetry and post-9/11 references, Kenneth Branagh's venture into Tom Clancy spy-film territory is an enjoyably old-fashioned affair with more than a whiff of John Buchan about it.
Branagh needn't necessarily regret doing this film – though it's a bit silly and slightly dull.
Hardly earth-shattering, then, but efficient and entertaining nonetheless.
General release. Check local listings for show times.
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