The Gray Man review

The Gray Man makes a few things clear early on. Netflix made a wise investment going into business with The Russo Brothers. Anthony and Joe Russo are perfectly fine handling mega blockbuster style action films without the Avengers — kinda.

Like the 2020 smash Netflix hit Extraction, The Gray Man prominently features another member of the Avengers Big Three. It’s still a Chris — Evans in this case, instead of Hemsworth, but the results are the same. Another highly enjoyable spectacle with some stellar action sequences.

In a lot of ways, The Gray Man plays out like a throwback 80s/90s action film with a semi-broody glib protagonist, a more than capable partner, a child in need of rescuing and a charismatic villain.

Joe Russo co-wrote the script with frequent collaborators Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely (Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame) from Mark Greaney’s book.

Just like those 80s/90s action films the plot isn’t the most important element. It’s all about the action and this one more than delivers.

Ryan Gosling (La La Land) plays Six, a member of an off-book CIA agency run by Fitzroy (Billy Bob Thornton). Six is good at his job, good enough to remain in play after Fitzroy is forcibly retired by Carmichael (Regé-Jean Page, Bridgerton).

Carmichael’s right-hand woman Suzanne (Jessica Henwick, The Matrix Resurrections) dispatches Six and fellow CIA agent Dani Miranda (Ana de Armas, No Time to Die) to take out an important target (Callan Mulvey, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice).

But this target has some vital information that immediately has Six questioning his loyalties and Carmichael’s true intentions. Those instincts prove right as Carmichael sends his loose cannon mercenary Lloyd Hansen (Evans, Lightyear) to retrieve the intel.

An unexpected twist early on makes the stakes more personal as Lloyd kidnaps Fitzroy’s niece, Claire (Julia Butters, Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood), giving the film a Commando plot thread as well.

Alfre Woodard doesn’t have a large role, but completely nails it as Fitzroy’s former superior officer and fellow mentor to Six. Dhanush also has a brief, but very memorable cameo as one of Lloyd’s assassins on payroll who proves to be more than a match for Six and Dani.

A subplot that probably needed a few more scenes is the flashbacks featuring Six as a child with his abusive father (Shea Whigham, F9: The Fast Saga).

It was kinda fun catching all of the filmography threads and overall connections to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Evans has teamed with The Russos since Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Henwick starred in two seasons of Iron Fist. Woodard starred in both Luke Cage and Captain America: Civil War. Whigham had a major role in Agent Carter. Mulvey starred in Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Page will be working alongside Samuel L. Jackson in Secret Invasion.

Evans clearly had a blast playing an unhinged, moral-free villain. He makes for a great foil for Gosling, who carries himself with the effortless cool of Bruce Willis in his action hero prime while looking like Christian Bale in between projects. It’s a fun pairing and The Russos wisely have Six and Lloyd face off before the big final act.

Gosling and de Armas have an established chemistry following their work on Blade Runner 2049 that carries over well as highly skilled operatives. De Armas is quietly asserting herself in the action hero realm coming off very comfortable in hand to hand, chase or shootout scenes.

This is the Russos most stylist film with quick cuts and speedy drone shots that further accentuate the quick pace feel in shootouts and chase scenes. It never feels too disorienting or confusing to take in.

For the script simplicities, the film’s action sequences (largely) make plot holes a non-factor. The Russos go big right from the start with a fight in a fireworks barge and a crazy exploding plane sequence.

If nothing else, The Gray Man should satisfy action fans looking for a film with some admittedly ridiculous, but amazing fights. And with a marquee star battle with Gosling and Evans it’s hard to go wrong.

This is the kind of film that delivers exactly what I expected and I wouldn’t have regretted paying to see it in theaters. That it was readily available on Netflix makes it even sweeter. Want an action rush? I definitely recommend setting aside some couch time for The Gray Man.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Photo Credit: Netflix

Check out A Gray Man novel by Mark Greaney on Amazon.

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