Locked Down Review: 6 Ups & 4 Downs

3. It Mostly Wastes Its Supporting Cast

The film isn't simply a two-hander between Hathaway and Ejiofor, though: they're joined by an appealing and distinguished cast, the majority of whom are sadly squandered in also-ran cameo roles mostly conducted through Zoom calls.

Ben Kingsley is mildly amusing as Paxton's bible-bashing, Cockney contractor pal Solomon, seemingly offering up a modulated riff on his iconic, Oscar-nominated performance in 2001's Sexy Beast. But as soon as he shows up, once again he's gone.

Elsewhere Ben Stiller appears for mere moments as Linda's boss, Mindy Kaling pops in to play one of her colleagues, and Stephen Merchant appears both digitally and briefly in person as Harrods' oddball logistics guy.

Though the motivation behind these cameos speaks for itself, that they lend the film a small sprinkle of added star power, they ultimately play as though cobbled together a few minutes before shooting started, adding vacuous little to the overall product.

They're marketing more than substance, basically.