Jack Ryan :Shadow Recruit [PG-13} 2014 Review by Ovie Man Chris Pine plays Jack Ryan in this prequel to the Tom Clancy novels that became movies, Clear and Present Danger, The Hunt for Red October,and The Sum of All Fears . There is no book for this movie, the producers looking to cash in on the Tom Clancy name. Kenneth Branagh is the director and also plays the villain in this movie, Viktor Cherevin, a Soviet terrorist. The movie quickly moves through Jack Ryans early life. Got an economics PhD at London School of Economics, circa 2001. Serves as a Marine in Afghanistan and is shot down in a helicopter. During rehabilitation, he meets medical student Kiera Knightley and is recruited for CIA by Kevin Costner, as Thomas Harper. Later marries Dr. Cathy Muller [Knightley]. Goes undercover looking for terrorist money working on Wall Street. Finds a concerning trend and goes to investigate Viktor Cherevin in Russia. Mayhem predictably ensues. The movie falls way short of any exciting twist or clever plot line to make this more than just an average movie. I do like Chris Pine as Jack Ryan. I feel that Kevin Costner has his boss is also believable. What is not believable what is that his wife Kathy can obtain a special visa on short notice to travel to Russia to interfere with Jacks espionage. Undeterred because she is happy he is only a spy and not cheating on him, of course, she becomes involved and the storyline takes a turn. Simply too predictable. Too underwhelming a performance and plot. Score: 5.0 / 10.0 Ovie Man
Posted on: Mon, 03 Feb 2014 14:38:06 +0000