By Megan Bianco
Britain has James Bond, America has Jack Ryan. Not exactly as big of an international icon in pop culture as the former, but we’ll take what we can get.
The character penned by Tom Clancy has produced not only a whole series of popular books but also successful hits with Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford and Ben Affleck playing the role for more than two decades.
Now, 12 years since Affleck’s turn as Ryan, comes Star Trek’s Chris Pine to give it a shot in Kenneth Branagh’s Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit.
After being seriously injured while serving in Afghanistan, Ryan settles down in Manhattan with girlfriend Cathy (Keira Knightley).
While working as a government analyst, Ryan discovers possible terrorist activity within the Russian Federation and United Nations. CIA agent Thomas Harper (Kevin Costner) recruits him to go to Moscow to put a stop to the vengeful Viktor Cheverin (Branagh).
Jack Ryan has four movie stars to make this film entertaining eye candy and a fun 90-minute ride. The only problem is characters are stuck behind some pretty stale dialogue and sloppy editing.
Pine has proven he is a fine action hero, and Knightley has an impressive American accent, but both have to work alongside an underdeveloped relationship and Cathy is merely a poorly written love interest for Knightley.
Branagh, while one of the best Shakespearan directors of cinema, might not be the best choice for action/adventure.
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