‘Shadow Force’ Review: Kerry Washington and Omar Sy Try, in Vain, to Keep Spy Flick Afloat

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Let’s face it: Family life and being members of an elite assassination squad just don’t mix.

The central characters of Joe Carnahan’s latest action film find themselves in a predicament that may not resonate with many viewers, as it unfolds in cinemas without prior screenings. Kerry Washington portrays Kyrah, and Omar Sy plays Issac, former members of the titled group who crossed a line by falling in love and having a child. Now turned rogue, their lives are threatened due to this infraction. In a contemporary twist, Isaac takes care of their young son Ky (Jahleel Kamara, endearing), while Kyrah continues her work in the field to neutralize the numerous assassins sent to eliminate them. As Issac tells his son, they used to perform unsavory tasks worldwide on behalf of someone or something, but after recognizing their past mistakes, they transformed into upstanding individuals.

If you’re unsure about how the rest of “Shadow Force” unfolds, it suggests that you might not have watched a sufficient number of direct-to-video films.

As a gamer, I found myself immersed in this unique tale penned by Carnahan (The Grey, Copshop) and Leon Chills. The script cleverly infused an eccentric twist here and there. My character, Isaac, oddly enough, is mostly deaf without his hearing aids. In combat situations, he’d take them off, believing that his fighting instincts would become sharper. It was a peculiar trait that added an edge to my character.

The family in the game, interestingly enough, had a soft spot for Lionel Richie’s music. This quirk was evident throughout the gameplay, with familiar tunes like “Truly” popping up unexpectedly and adorable moments such as young Ky understanding the message behind “Brick House.” It was an unusual yet endearing touch that added charm to our gaming experience.

One day, Isaac was trying to keep a low profile with his son, but their peaceful visit to the local bank turned chaotic when a group of masked, heavily armed robbers showed up. (How frustrating!) In a flash, Isaac swiftly took off his hearing aids and sprang into action, successfully taking down the robbers. Unfortunately for him, this heroic act was all caught on camera and soon became viral news. Unsurprisingly, it didn’t take long for Kyrah and Isaac’s former superior, Jack Cinder (Mark Strong), to find out about it. From the moment we see him swimming laps in his luxurious waterfront home, it’s clear that Jack is not someone you’d want on your bad side.

Following Isaac’s encounter with the outside world, Kyrah reunites with him to safeguard Ky, resulting in light-hearted yet not entirely humorous banter over who is the superior marksman. “Let’s avoid another Odessa,” Kyrah suggests, causing viewers to ponder about the mysterious events that transpired in Odessa, as it seems more intriguing than the current situation.

As Cinder and his group of killers edge near their target, Kyrah and Isaac embark on a journey common in thrillers that involves traveling to various exotic locations. The destinations they visit are displayed on screen, which is more than what you’d find in a travel agency’s office. Chasing them are two characters affectionately called “Auntie” (Da’Vine Joy Randolph, enjoying herself) and “Unc” (Cliff “Method Man” Smith). Surprisingly, these individuals are actually trying to safeguard them. This is Da’Vine Joy Randolph’s first major film role since her Academy Award-winning performance in “The Holdovers“, which lends more weight to the often discussed “Oscar Curse” affecting supporting actors.

Events culminate in an unavoidable intense showdown, filled with allegiance switches, deceit, and car chases reminiscent of action movies like James Bond and Mission: Impossible. It’s no shock that Isaac ends up removing his hearing aids once more by the end.

In their efforts, Washington and Sy pour all their charm into making the events captivating, yet finding an engaging angle proves challenging for them. Strong goes above and beyond with his portrayal of villainy, infusing it with intensity usually seen in Greek tragedies (having just starred in a London production of Oedipus alongside Lesley Manville). However, he falls short due to the heavy-handed writing style that has the antagonist explaining his wickedness excessively, complete with ironic comments and reprimands to subordinates. As a result, instead of instilling fear, he appears tiresome. This criticism can also be applied to Shadow Force.

Washington and Sy work diligently to make the events exciting, but they struggle to create an engaging atmosphere. Strong puts in extra effort with his villainous role, imbuing it with intensity often found in Greek tragedies (having recently starred in a London production of Oedipus alongside Lesley Manville). However, his performance is let down by poor writing that has the villain explaining his evil deeds too much, using ironic remarks and scolding subordinates. Consequently, instead of being frightening, he seems tiresome. The same critique can be applied to Shadow Force.

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2025-05-09 23:54