Red Sparrow Review: 5 Ups & 5 Downs

3. It Takes Itself Way Too Seriously

Considering how unabashedly ridiculous the film is at times, it's a shame that it also decides to take itself dead seriously. Granted, some of the film's more difficult themes mean that it probably shouldn't be a laugh-a-minute romp, but tonally, there's a sure disconnect between the story's overarching silliness and how severely it regards itself.

Some well-placed gallows humour would've gone a long towards ironing out the film's needlessly stern tenor, because its navel-gazing grimness ultimately feels more exhausting than engrossing by the time it's all over.

Perhaps with stronger material the oppressively harrowing mood would've worked, but considering the narrative is basically nonsense, it should've been at least a little more fun too.