Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit

Name: Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit
Genre: Action, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Released: January 17, 2014
Duration: 105 min
Rating: 57
Cast: Chris Pine, Keira Knightley, Kenneth Branagh, Kevin Costner

2014

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Mixed or average reviews based on 36 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 236 Ratings

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5.9

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5.9	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 236 Ratings

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Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit

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Movie Details & Credits

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: January 17, 2014 | PG-13

Starring: Chris Pine, Keira Knightley, Kenneth Branagh, Kevin Costner

Summary: Jack Ryan appears to be just another New York executive to his friends and loved ones, but his enlistment into the CIA secretly goes back years. He was brought in as a brainy Ph.D. who crunches global data – but when Ryan ferrets out a meticulously planned scheme to collapse the U.S. economy and spark global chaos, he becomes the only manJack Ryan appears to be just another New York executive to his friends and loved ones, but his enlistment into the CIA secretly goes back years. He was brought in as a brainy Ph.D. who crunches global data – but when Ryan ferrets out a meticulously planned scheme to collapse the U.S. economy and spark global chaos, he becomes the only man with the skills to stop it. Now, he’s gone fully operational, thrust into a world of mounting suspicion, deception and deadly force. Caught between his tight-lipped handler Harper, his in-the-dark fiancée Cathy and a brilliant Russian oligarch, Jack must confront a new reality where no one can seem to be trusted, yet the fate of millions rests on his finding the truth. With the urgency of a lit fuse, he’s in a race to stay one step ahead of everyone around him. [Paramount Pictures]… Expand

Director: Kenneth Branagh

Genre(s): Action, Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 105 min

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Critic Reviews

Stephen Whitty

Jan 16, 2014

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit though, gets the international-espionage ingredients almost exactly right. Read full review

Peter Hartlaub

Jan 16, 2014

Even with its thrifty set pieces and smaller ambitions, this attempt to reboot the series based on Tom Clancy characters does the most important thing right: It almost always feels like a Jack Ryan movie. Read full review

Richard Corliss

Jan 16, 2014

A reboot of an A-level spy series seems too pretty-good to be true. Shadow Recruit occupies this weekend’s movie screens as familiarly and reassuringly as a Walther PPK fits in the hand of James Bond. Read full review

Claudia Puig

Jan 15, 2014

The film is slow in getting started and once it's underway it's only intermittently involving. It's also occasionally far-fetched. Read full review

Bill Goodykoontz

Jan 16, 2014

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit is a well-made movie, well-acted (Costner and Branagh seem to be having an especially good time) and a pleasant diversion. They’ll probably make several more. But it doesn’t exactly put the “thrill” in action thriller. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

Jan 16, 2014

There is no shaking the feeling that Branagh and his cast are a kind of an espionage film B team, capable of mild diversion but nothing more. Read full review

Kimberley Jones

Jan 22, 2014

Branagh might as well have opened a can and dumped it on a plate, the ridges of a factory-line production still perfectly hatched on a gelatinous cylinder of crud. Read full review

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User Reviews

StevieB212

Jan 19, 2014

Well made, excitingly paced action, spy pic. All of the lead actors were exactly what was needed: Chris Pine, soft on the eyes, action hero, an average Joe in for more than he bargained for, but a soldier first and foremost; Keira Knightley, the pretty innocent who tags along, and then isWell made, excitingly paced action, spy pic. All of the lead actors were exactly what was needed: Chris Pine, soft on the eyes, action hero, an average Joe in for more than he bargained for, but a soldier first and foremost; Keira Knightley, the pretty innocent who tags along, and then is up to the tasks at hand; Kevin Costner, the old mentor and Kenneth Branagh, who gets special mention for playing a Russian flawlessly. The plot was not complicated, easy to understand, but exciting even with its simplicity. And the plot was thoughtful in our contemporary times: full of technology and ideas of economic terrorism. The films was pleasant in its setting: lavish apartments and office buildings, high tech screens, exteriors in Moscow.… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

David_H

Jan 27, 2014

Very good action-filled movie from start to finish. After the mixture of actors that have portrayed Jack Ryan and particularly mediocre showings from Ben Affleck and Alec Baldwin, this young Chris Pine is a breath of fresh air. Chris really brings a youth and intensity to the character. TheVery good action-filled movie from start to finish. After the mixture of actors that have portrayed Jack Ryan and particularly mediocre showings from Ben Affleck and Alec Baldwin, this young Chris Pine is a breath of fresh air. Chris really brings a youth and intensity to the character. The only fault I can list is Keira Knightley's character as Ryan's love interest; her reaction to the revelation of what Ryan really does for a living lacks in some believability...… Expand

0 of 5 users found this helpful05

TheApplegnome

Jul 11, 2014

Not as entertaining as the expectations, but still watchable.

The opening scene is slow and boring, and the SFX could have been better. There are also almost no unique things that makes this movie special in comparison to other movies, but in the end is Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit great.Not as entertaining as the expectations, but still watchable.

The opening scene is slow and boring, and the SFX could have been better. There are also almost no unique things that makes this movie special in comparison to other movies, but in the end is Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit great. The reason why is because the actors are great, and that the ending and the story is good. There are also a good amount of action that keeps me entertained.

A film with many deficiencies, but watchable.

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit gets a 7/10… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

KovacsBowman

Jun 18, 2014

Jack Ryan starts off quite action packed, but quickly slows down as the story unfolds. Which in this case is not the greatest story ever told, yet another cold war type thriller set in modern times.

The film is quite fast paced once it gets going and will keep you interest for a littleJack Ryan starts off quite action packed, but quickly slows down as the story unfolds. Which in this case is not the greatest story ever told, yet another cold war type thriller set in modern times.

The film is quite fast paced once it gets going and will keep you interest for a little while. But I doubt you will be to bothered if you get interrupted whilst watching.

Sadly the main character is slightly disjointed for me (no pun intended!), going from a standard GI to special agent/tax man with barely any skills overnight. Getting himself into trouble around every corner, he goes from bland tax man to super hero in a matter of days.

There are much better films of this genre out there, stick to them and leave this one in the shadows.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Tyranian

Feb 24, 2020

Pretty flamin average action-thriller with okay acting and action but zero originality.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ADM21

Jan 24, 2014

This film can be summarized in one word: average. It such a shame to say so as well, it was promoted as an action film that could be entertaining whilst maintaining some level of intelligence. Unfortunately, it focuses so much on being intelligent that it becomes quite dull, lacking any realThis film can be summarized in one word: average. It such a shame to say so as well, it was promoted as an action film that could be entertaining whilst maintaining some level of intelligence. Unfortunately, it focuses so much on being intelligent that it becomes quite dull, lacking any real action or emotion. By the time the film reaches its climax, you aren't that intrigued, and you really just don't care about it, which is disappointing, because with its story, it should have been a lot more tense. See it if you're a die hard fan of the other Jack Ryan films, other than that, i can't really recommend this to anyone.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Clearview

Dec 31, 2016

if you want to watch a real worst movie in every point, this is it. I wasted my money and time on this, I even don't know how to call it. Writer is probably dropped out from a middle school.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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