This feature from Universal Pictures opens at cinemas nationwide on January 7th.
When attending a spy flick at the cinema, one expects to see dazzling locations, charismatic characters, as well as plenty of thrills, tension and a dynamic villain. A new film called The 355 offers some interesting casting and manages to incorporate a few important elements into its storyline, but otherwise comes up short in too many departments to earn itself a recommendation.
The plot involves CIA agent Mason Browne (Jessica Chastain) who is assigned to take on an incredibly important mission with fellow spy Nick Fowler (Sebastian Stan). They are assigned to retrieve a data key that can get into any closed system on the planet and destabilize the world. After a mishap, Browne finds herself officially removed from the case. However, she is informed by a superior to secretly continue with her mission. In order to find the item, she recruits former MI6 agent Khadjoah (Lupita Nyong’o). They also find themselves crossing paths with multiple other spies. This includes German Marie Schmidt (Diane Kruger), Columbian DNI psychologist/operative Graciela (Penelope Cruz) and a secretive Chinese figure named Lin Mi Sheng (Bingbing Fan).
While many expect exaggerated antics from their action pictures, everything here feels especially over-the-top. Amusingly enough, one character utters, “Dial it down!” early on in the feature. Those who made the movie would have been wise to have followed the direction. The movie features a fantastic cast, but the screenplay ultimately lets them and everyone else down. They aren’t given material that develops their characters in more than the broadest and most generic of strokes. And when the agents interact, the resulting angry conversations about “cyber-intelligence” and “the package” come across as corny. And a big plot twist is telegraphed right from the outset.
In addition to the central plot, the script attempts to introduce some of the various relationships between the spies and their partners, bosses and family members. These matters also seem silly, especially when these heart-to-heats come between shootouts and action scenes. The performers can more than handle themselves in action and the fight scenes look convincing. While things do improve and become tense when things aren’t going to plan and the leads are in serious peril, but several of the scenarios (particularly early on) do little to thrill. Especially when the group find themselves running through highly populated parts of Paris and Shanghai armed and opening fire without batting an eye.
This is the type of picture that takes itself too seriously given the outrageousness of certain plot elements. It would have been a wiser movie to subtly wink to the audience or acknowledge the craziness of the mission or the absurdity of what is being attempted. The cast are talented and make a few individual scenes work, but the filmmakers have attempted to deliver a serious, straight-faced action flick and don’t succeed. Unfortunately, The 355 doesn’t send pulses racing or inspire much more than giggles.