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Jon’s Movie Review- Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit

Spy thrillers always need a villain. Usually people from countries that were up until recently our enemies always seem to fit the bill. Its been over 20 years since the Soviet Union disbanded, but apparently they are still a threat. In this second reboot of the franchise (the first reboot having Ben Affleck), we see Tom Clancy’s famous patriotic character, Jack Ryan, fighting familiar foes in an all too nostalgic fashion.

We meet Jack Ryan (Chris Pine), a student in a university who is so devastated by the attacks of September 11, that he feels a call to action and enlists right away. Unfortunately, his tour is short-lived when his helicopter crashes and he is left learning how to walk all over again. Luckily, he has the help medical intern Cathy Muller (Keira Knightley) to motivate him though a mixture of tough love and sexual tension. Another great motivator comes in the form CIA Agent William Harper (Kevin Costner), who wants to enlist Jack as an analyst in the financial sector to try to figure out who funded the terrorists.

After uncovering some mysterious transactions coming from Russia, Jack is sent to investigate the origins and find out who is responsible for funding the terrorist attacks against the US. Not too long after he lands in Russia, his job almost instantaneously changes from analyst to super-spy. As Jack get closer to uncovering the truth, Viktor Cherevin (Kenneth Branagh) must make sure his plan to cripple and destroy the US’s economy goes off without a hitch. Cathy, who is now in a long-term relationship with Jack, begins feeling insecure and tries to save her relationship by going to Russia to see Jack. Now Jack must find a way to save the world, save Cathy, and stop an evil Russian plot.

If you just rolled your eyes, I can’t say I blame you. The evil Russian, the damsel in distress, the American super-soldier who can out perform better trained people. It’s so formulaic that it hurts. This is the first film with Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan that isn’t out of one of his books. That explain the bland story, but not the low doses of action sequences needed to make this film a solid reboot. This film benefits from the update in style, leaning more towards the resent James Bond films. Replacing the enemies with Russians, and of course replacing the sexy women and casual sex with an insecure Keira Knightley.

In the end, what you do end up with is a decent origin story that promises an action filled future. As a (re-)reboot, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit doesn’t offer anything new except a slight modernization and a change of style, but for now that is enough to keep me interested in what comes next.

RATING: ★★★★★(5/10 stars)

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Jon Espino

Jon would say that as a writer, he is a self-proclaimed film snob and a pop culture junkie. Always gives his honest, critical, and maybe a little bit snarky opinion on everything. He's very detail oriented and loves anything involving creativity and innovation. You're better off asking him who his favorite director is rather than his favorite film. So beware and get ready to be entertained. You can contact him at jon@theyoungfolks.com or follow him on twitter @DystopianHero. (Also, he doesn't always refer to himself in the third person, but sometimes he just has to).