Shelf-referential and satisfying to a fault, In The Grey sees writer/director Guy Ritchie utilise many of his most identifiable tropes. Starting with a dialogue-driven narrative, in this case, provided by the complete badass Sophia (Eiza González – Baby Driver & Godzilla vs. Kong), Ritchie continues to show that he can write great roles for women. Think Michelle Dockery from The Gentlemen.
The bedrock of the film is provided by the bromance between its two male leads, Jake Gyllenhaal and Henry Cavill, think Sherlock Holmes and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Their complete and utter competence powers the action scenes, but at times this can take a bit of the suspense away. Nothing gets by these two, and the end result can sometimes feel a given.
The story is set in the International world of banking and, of course, the seedy world of global crime. Manny Salazar (Carlos Bardem) is the kingpin of the criminal world, and Rosamund Pike and Fisher Stevens are the less-than-legal enablers. González plays the force-of-nature lawyer who has the best lines and the best wardrobe. Her impeccable sense of fashion is matched only by her legal skills and ruthlessness.
It’s good to see Ritchie back up on the big screen after a few recent trips to TV land. His passion for cool dialogue and big action belongs in a world where the images and sound are part of a massive presentation. With In The Grey, he and the familiar cast really deliver the goods. While it might not be his greatest achievement, it does provide a fair share of adrenaline-filled action.
Rob Hudson
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