A great many action movies have been made over the years. This one looks to be different because its protagonists are all strong women. That fact is not exactly new anymore, as femme fatales have been kicking butt just like traditional tough guys for a while now, from Jennifer Garner and Charlize Theron to Michelle Rodriguez and Viola Davis. What matters is the story and the script — and this film is somewhat lacking in those areas.
Simon Kinberg’s film posits that a Colombian drug lord has developed a gadget that can access the internet and override any program, and while the thing is supposed to be top secret, soon every agency in the world is after it. This includes a German (Diane Kruger), an American (Jessica Chastain), a Brit (Lupita Nyong’o) and a psychologist (Penélope Cruz), who reluctantly team up together to keep the thing from falling into evil hands. They fail. They are betrayed. They try again. Their loved ones are threatened. They overcome.
As far as action goes, the movie is spectacular in the modern manner, with lots of explosions, car crashes, bullets ripping through furniture and fancy decor without actually harming anyone, etc. It’s fine as far as it goes, which to my mind is not very far. The script forces these women together for survival and some of their moments are effective. The film refuses to objectify them, which I guess is a good thing, yet it also fails to provide them with enough character to matter. The big plot rolls on like a steamroller, whether it makes any sense or not. A very simple solution to the entire problem is ignored until the very end, when someone finally takes the initiative and solves the problem forever.
I’ve seen worse spy movies but I’ve certainly seen better. This one moves very quickly, glossing over story inadequacies and dumbly diminishing the emotional high points of the story, which could have been really powerful. Instead, this is a run of the mill action yarn, wherein Oscar-winning actresses kick butt and save the world. Yawn. ☆ ☆. 31 October 2023.