On Jan. 14 Paramount released the highly anticipated "Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit" to favorable reviews.
The film, which stars Kenneth Branagh, Kevin Costner, Chris Pine and Keira Knightley, tells the story of Jack Ryan, a young covert CIA analyst who uncovers a Russian plot to crash the U.S. economy with a terrorist attack.
The film was originally slated for a December release but was delayed when Paramount moved "The Wolf of Wall Street" to a December release. The movie has surprisingly scored favorable reviews, which is odd for this time of year when critcally-panned films are often unceremoniously released by studios. The movie currently has a 71 percent aggregate score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Stephen Witty of the Newark Star-Ledger enjoyed the film and wrote, "A promising start to a probable new franchise, and an early bright spot on the late winter film calendar."
Stephanie Zacharek from the Village Voice wrote, "'Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit' is half silliness, half swagger, but Branagh's arms-akimbo impudence as a director makes it work. He takes it all seriously, but with a wink."
Andrew L. Urban from Urban Cinefile also enjoyed the film and said, "Competently directed by Branagh, the film's stunts, action scenes and thriller elements are executed with flourish and the Moscow sequences are terrific."
Meanwhile, Time Out New York's Joshua Rothkopf was disappointed and wrote, "Pine is never going to successfully pull off weight-of-the-world anxiety: His expression in 'Shadow Recruit's' first moments, set on 9/11, might be called 'aggrieved puppy.'"
Jenny Casablancas from Filmink also agreed and said, "While Kenneth Branagh does a competent job behind the camera, he's unaided by a lazy, uninspired and hollow screenplay."
Paramount will unveil "Jack Ryan" in 3,000 theaters. The film is rated PG-13 for sequences of violence and intense action and brief strong language.
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