The Gray Man is High on Action and Short on Plot

A few attributes that make spy flicks entertaining are the action adventure sequences,  humanistic conflict via a love interest or someone who needs rescuing and deciding whether or not you want to root for the villain or the hero.  Combined they entice audiences to show up time and time again allowing us to escape our world and enter another full of intrigue, sex and excitement.

Based on the Mark Greaney’s book and directed by The Russo Brothers, The Gray Man follows CIA’s top operative, Six (Ryan Gosling) after a hit goes horribly wrong.  The agent accidentally uncovers agency secrets, thereby triggering a global hunt by assassins in an attempt to halt him from releasing damaging information regarding some of the top names in the CIA.

Having undeniably solidified their action brand at Marvel, The Russo Brothers made a detour at Netflix and the results are super high on action and very little story.  Once Six is on the run, he stays on the run with stakes that are much not as high  for the rest of the film.  With the exception of a few infiltrated flashbacks here and there, the film falls just a little flat, but action junkies and fans of Anthony and Joe won’t really care.

Watching Chris Evans tap into his villainous side is absolutely scrumptious.  He is pure evil with a slight smirk coming from his face and dripping with sarcasm from his mouth.  Ryan Gosling and Ana de Armas are the perfect hero duo and witnessing them kicking butt and taking names was beyond exciting. Regé-Jean Page globally captured hearts as The Duke in Bridgerton and flips the script as the devilishly confident Carmichael showing his range knows no boundaries.  Billy Bob Thornton and Alfre Woodard round out a star studded cast boasting talent, skills and stunts for days.

Having done a theatrical run a few weeks prior to streaming, action junkies will be satisfied with the insane Fast and Furious stunts into large bodies of water, hopping from one vehicle to the next and its charismatic cast as it makes its way onto Netflix today.