Chris Pine takes on the role of Jack Ryan in this pleasingly old-school action thriller.
A reboot of the film franchise based on the books of author Tom Clancy, Shadow Recruit sees a young Jack Ryan (Pine) join the marines following 9/11, get badly injured on his tour of duty and then fall head over heels for beautiful physiotherapist Cathy (Keira Knightley) on his return.
Not content to settle for a comfortable civilian life, Jack is then recruited to the Financial Intelligence Unit of the CIA. Initially an analyst, he soon takes on the mantle of fully fledged spy when he uncovers a Russian plot to destroy the US economy.
Wildly original this film isn't, but that certainly shouldn't put fans of espionage action off. Kenneth Branagh manages to craft a solid and efficient genre piece that has more than a smattering of old-fashioned charm.
Evoking the cold-war thrillers of the 60s, Branagh also takes on the role of archetypal Russian baddie Viktor Cherevin and does so with aplomb. He takes centre stage in the film's standout set piece, quoting Russian literature over a flirtatious dinner with Cathy while Jack is out saving the day.
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit is a Film programme that first aired in 2014 and has been classified a 12 certificate.
