The biggest muscle-flexing in "The Gray Man" comes not from Ryan Gosling or Chris Evans (not that they're slackers), but from the overall cast, which includes Ana de Armas after her role as kick-butt Bond, as well as Regé- Jean Page after "Bridgerton", Jessica Henwick ("The Matrix") and Indian star Dhanush. The script, unfortunately, is a bit of a wimp at 98 pounds, but given the escapist demands, it's probably enough to get the job done.
In fact, "Gray Man 2022" comes from the "Red Notice" school of noisy, if not so colorful, Netflix action movies, where the cast, the influence of social media, and the credibility of superheroes in the key cast make quality is basically irrelevant. No matter the movie, the poster alone, including "Avengers" directors the Russo Brothers, pretty much ensures astronomical "minutes watched" numbers.
Even less than "Red," though, "Gray Man" doesn't really live up to the hype, which includes the mandatory early theatrical release to grease the wheels for its streaming assault.
Directors: Anthony RussoJoe Russo
Writers: Joe Russo, Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely
Based on the book series, the film serves as the latest iteration of the Bond-Bourne genre, but even more than most, the spy-versus-spy antics serve as an excuse for elaborate action sequences and insane stunt work. that produce some genuine highlights, but also produce gradually diminishing returns, especially down the stretch.
Whether Gosling wants a future as the shadowy CIA assassin known only as Six (he jokes that 007's already been taken) remains to be seen, but this represents a modest, if perhaps unavoidable, addition to his eclectic résumé. As if to emphasize the point, Evans's character mockingly refers to him as a "Ken doll," a sly reference to his upcoming foray into the ins and outs of franchise filmmaking.
Gosling's Court Gentry is brought out of prison, naturally, to kill by the CIA, operating in a gray realm that, to quote the old song, gives him a number and takes his name away from him. However, Six's latest mission gives him possession of information that makes him dangerous to those above him, threatening everyone from his colleague on that operation (De Armas) to the now-retired controller (Billy Bob Thornton) who recruited him.
However, taking out Six will require some big guns, which explains why those looking to kill him recruit Lloyd Hansen (Evans), a sociopathic hit man who boasts that "I can kill anyone," a claim Six will put to rest. testing. test, and cares little for collateral damage or keeping "covert" actions secret, to an almost comical degree.
The chase takes the protagonists all over the world, and just to up the ante, it launches a child in peril with a heart condition (Julia Butters, already building quite a resume after "Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood") to give Six something to fight for beyond himself.
The script (credited to co-director Joe Russo, Christopher Markus, and Stephen McFeely) includes some sly humor, and Evans in particular seems to be enjoying the roguish villains after his spotlessly clean, star-studded picture. Still, a torture sequence to prove how bad he is ends up feeling somewhat gratuitous.
Ultimately, "The Gray Man" is an unintentionally appropriate title to describe a film that exists within such a narrow band of the cinematic spectrum. While it's a step up from the Russos' last broadcast effort, the somber "Cherry," it's the equivalent of a "B" movie of yesteryear with an A-level cast and budget.
At one point, Six dismisses the risks and punishment he endures by saying, "Just another Thursday." While "Gray Man" isn't all that mundane, in the larger scheme of Netflix's adventures in making blockbuster movies, it feels like just another action flick.
The Gray Man 2022 Movie Trailer
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