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I’m a lifelong fan of spy movies. Most spy stories tend to fall into one of two camps: the quiet, stoic stories of espionage and political intrigue (Notorious or Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), or bombastic, action-filled adventures (the Bourne or Bond series). Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit tries to be both, and can’t pull off a satisfying version of either.

The movie is a reboot of the Jack Ryan franchise that began with The Hunt for Red October, a nostalgic favourite for many. Sadly, everything about Shadow Recruit feels forgettable. It seems remarkably dated, like the kind of neutered action thrillers that Hollywood pumped out in the late ‘90s. In the past decade we’ve seen many movies like The Bourne Identity, big budget spy movies that manage to please audiences while still having the balls to take creative risks. Shadow Recruit feels like Brosnan-era Bond at its most tepid. This kind of movie just isn’t relevant anymore.

Kenneth Branagh directs and stars as the villain, managing to be just as bland behind the camera as he is in front of it. The action scenes are a lot of shaky-cam nonsense and provide none of the thrills a picture like this should deliver. Most of the movie takes place in Moscow, but it could have been shot in Toronto. There’s no sense of place or character whatsoever. The characters aren’t people, just plot conveniences. The villain’s only characteristic is his Russian accent, and he’s the most complicated character onscreen.

Shadow Recruit suffers from the fatal reboot/prequel problem: it’s more concerned with mythology than telling a compelling story. Filling out the backstory of an established character isn’t a substitute for real moviemaking. I don’t need to know Jack Ryan’s life story. Just make him a captivating character with something to do. Shadow Recruit never makes that happen.

Published in Volume 68, Number 17 of The Uniter (January 22, 2014)