Six (Ryan Gosling) was plucked from a lifetime prison sentence to be trained by CIA handler Fitzroy (Billy Bob Thornton) as a ‘gray man’. Someone who works in between black and white and can do things that others cannot. When his latest assassination target gives him some top secret information the agency turn against him with private contractor Lloyd Hansen (Chris Evans) hired to kill him. 

The Gray Man is Netflix latest big budget streaming blockbuster. Reportedly costing $200 million it is co-written and directed by the Russo brothers, most famous for bringing to life Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Whilst its cast includes Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas and Rege-Jean Page. It is based on a book series by Mark Greaney that currently stands at eleven books long with another planned for release early next year. Whilst the look and feel of it is essentially equal parts Bond, Bourne and Wick. What could possibly go wrong? Well nothing really. It’s just that nothing especially sparkles either. The Gray Man is both thoroughly generic and utterly efficient and effective as an action movie. 

The plot has Gosling’s character jet around the world. Surviving the unsurvivable. Occasionally giving us an insight into the soft underbelly of an invincible assassin with a heart of gold. They even let Gosling give the slightest hint of his great comedic talents. Ana de Armas plays seemingly an identical character to the one she played in No Time To Die. Stunning to look at and often Six’s saviour. Whilst Chris Evans seems to revel in playing completely the opposite character to the one he became famous for in the Russo’s biggest films. His sociopathic assassin is as comical as he is unhinged. 

The fight sequences and action scenes are large scale and effective. All three of our leads look the part and the effects are mostly solid with one particular scene suffering a little from CGI that does not completely hold up. 

Everything is fine. It’s just that Bourne, Bond and Wick all have done it better. And multiple times. So this is worth your time and perhaps if they make the sequels they clearly would love to make it can grow and improve. For now though it’s effective rather than inspiring.