5 Reasons Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit Isn't Just The Usual January Trash
5. The Premise Is Fun And Consistently Entertaining
Initially Jack Ryan begins as a movie that cant stop hopping through its opening origin story at breakneck speeds. First Jack is fatally wounded on a military mission in a helicopter, then hes crippled and simultaneously hitting on his doctor during recovery, and then a CIA agent begins following him for possible recruitment. This is all within the first 10 minutes and again, initially makes for a jumbled setup leaving the viewer confused as to what the film will even be about, but once this origin summary finishes and the title cards flash the movie instantly gains direction and traction with its core plot. Jack Ryan (Chris Pine) has been silently recruited by CIA agent William Harper (Kevin Costner) and seated inside Wall Street to expertly watch for suspicious transactions between various countries that could lead to terrorism. Not so surprisingly, he discovers shady business and uncovers a Russian conspiracy to crash the US economy, essentially causing the second Great Depression. Theres also a hit and miss subplot regarding the fact that Jack has taken an oath and cant tell his doctor girlfriend Cathy (Keira Knightley) that hes actually an undercover agent unless they tie the knot. Nevertheless, he slyly avoids her to crack the case on location in Moscow. Its nothing groundbreaking but something to spice up the film nonetheless. All in all Director Kenneth Branagh manages to keep things engaging even if they are relatively by the numbers.
