Here's a shocker: the Russo Brothers know how to make an extremely standard action movie. Everything about The Gray Man is a cliche and rote. It's a high octane action thriller with over the top stunts and shoot out scenes featuring a cast of beautiful people centred around the classic white male action hero who just succeeds against all odds while pit against a madman almost as lucky and skilled as him. We've seen it all before. But despite being a retread of much better movies it works and is entertaining. Kind of like all the Russo's work.
If you're going to make a cliched run of the mill Hollywood action pic then why not lean in and just do it all by the book? There is nothing wrong with The Gray Man. For what it does it does it well. Really my only critique is just how unoriginal it is. It's like every Bourne movie, Mission Impossible movie, rolled into one. It's like a bot was challenged to write and direct and action movie and it did a good job.
Perhaps the film goes on a little too long. The ending might have been more satisfying if it had ended more ambiguously about 10 minutes before it does without the outright victory that it offers. There was a moment near the end that felt a little ominous which would have left a slightly unsettling ending. I wish they had just wrapped it up there. But nope the hero has to win the day in these movies so they make sure that happens.
But getting past that The Gray Man is extremely watchable. If you're looking for a light watch without having to think much but that won't be insulting, The Gray Man is for you. What more would be expect from the cookie cutter Marvel movie directors?
The Gray Man
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jessica Henwick, Regé-Jean Page, Billy Bob Thornton, Alfre Woodard, Wagner Moura, Dhanush
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Writers: Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely, Joe Russo
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