Review Score: 3/5
Opening with an intense and confronting sequence, director Ang Lee sets audiences up for a thrill-ride that doesn’t always deliver, but does enough to entertain with Gemini Man.
Henry Brogan (Will Smith) is an elite assassin who we see complete his 72nd hit job before revealing his intentions to stand down and live a peaceful retirement. When he meets up with an old friend and discovers that the people he’s been working for may have a villainous ulterior motive however, he quickly finds a huge target on his own back.
Though he has allies that promise to help keep him safe, as well as a new friend in fellow agent Danny Zakarweski (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), those on his tail are able to consistently predict his next move. The terrifying truth behind all of this? He’s been cloned, and that younger, faster version of himself is intent on bringing the real Henry Brogan’s life to a close.
It’s a novel idea, and one that you could easily imagine bringing plenty of drama to the big screen. There’s a wonderful motorbike chase scene following Brogan’s discovery of his clone which is shot beautifully, bringing audiences right into the fold with stunning cinematography and filming techniques including plenty of long shots and rapid zoom.
Where Gemini Man fails however, is when it relies heavily on CGI. The younger version of Brogan is understandably going to be aided with special effects and, for the most-part, the clone is convincing enough. Smith puts in a great performance. Some unnecessary CGI, such as seeing the private jet Brogan escapes on after his motorcycle chase, really harms the overall enveloping of those watching. It’s so obviously created on a computer, that it leaves you feeling a little cold.
There are also less than a handful of scenes or exchanges which will genuinely make you laugh. Attempts at humour come more often than actual laugh-out-loud moments. Do we really need to see Winstead’s character forced to strip down so that Brogan’s clone can check if she’s wearing a wire? Should she be told she’s talking too much before being gagged? Female characters deserve a better treatment in today’s world.
Smith, Winstead and the rest of the cast are the saviours of a film which could have been paper thin without them, thanks to their electric chemistry. As Brogan’s clone, Smith he delivers an emotional performance that should be applauded; despite the weak writing. Benedict Wong is also a sheer joy to watch as cheerful companion Baron.
Gemini Man is definitely worth a watch if you’re looking for something simple and easy to enjoy. Action junkies will get a kick out of the well-choreographed battle sequences, and the all-star cast ensures you’re not left twiddling your thumbs during the more tender scenes.
There are also a whole bunch of exciting special features on the Blu-ray edition, including an alternate movie opening along with a deleted scene, and featurettes that allow you to go behind-the-scenes and delve into exactly how the film was put together.
Gemini Man is available now on Digital Download, as well as on DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K Ultra HD.
Tagged in Will Smith