Movies

Shadow Force Fails to Deliver Exciting Action Despite Star Power

BBG News

In contrast to the popular one-man hero tales like the John Wick series, there’s been an increasing number of movies focusing on families whose peaceful lives are disrupted when their parents’ past as spies resurface. So far, these films haven’t managed to create much excitement, with Mark Wahlberg’s The Family Plan and Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx’s Back in Action failing to impress due to tonal inconsistencies and lack of originality respectively. In Shadow Force, Kerry Washington and Omar Sy have more opportunities to act, but the movie still doesn’t offer enough fresh elements to distinguish itself from others in the genre.

In the series titled “Shadow Force “, Washington and Sy assume roles as Kyrah Owens and Isaac Sarr – two exceptional agents who are part of the secretive special forces team. As their romance blossomed, they became parents to a boy named Ky, which eventually led them to depart from the organization. To take down their former comrades and their leader, Kyrah proposes a plan to lure them out. Meanwhile, Isaac devotes himself to raising their son single-handedly for four years. Later, an unexpected bank robbery ensnares Isaac and Ky, prompting them to flee. In order to safeguard their son from the clutches of Shadow Force, Kyrah reappears alongside them in their escape.

Kyrah & Isaac Are Not The Most Interesting Couple Here

Washington & Sy Also Feel Like They’re Holding Back

Though the storyline largely adheres to its genre’s typical structure, it introduces an intriguing twist by portraying the central couple as far from contented spouses. Kyrah’s prolonged absence leaves Isaac harboring resentment, sparking significant discussions about cherishing family ties. This bitterness, in turn, leads to Kyrah recognizing what she’s missed and deepening her understanding of family values. Moreover, this estrangement sets the stage for a heartwarming rekindling of love between them, as they reminisce on their shared dreams of starting a family and reignite those passions.

As a film enthusiast myself, let me share my thoughts on this movie I recently watched. The relationship between Sy and Washington takes center stage, but I found some areas that could use improvement. To begin with, their performances are not bad per se, but they seem to be holding back, especially during emotional scenes. This is particularly noticeable in moments when Washington’s sadness appears forced or inauthentic.

The other issue I had is the underdevelopment of a more fascinating couple within the story – Da’Vine Joy Randolph’s Auntie and Method Man’s Unc. Their dynamic is intriguing, and I felt they deserved more screen time to fully bring their characters to life.

In this action film, the friends of Isaac and Kyrah, who happen to work for the Office of the Inspector General as covert operatives, are seen investigating the main villain, Jack Cinder played by Mark Strong. Simultaneously, they aim to assist Sy and Washington’s characters. Unlike the movie’s action scenes, Auntie and Unc’s surveillance proves more engaging. Furthermore, their performances, delivered exceptionally well by Randolph and Method Man, provide much-needed comic relief, especially when interacting with each other, making them the most humorous members of the cast.

The Movie’s Action Is Well-Choreographed, But Poorly Executed

With All The Genre Experience Here, I Can’t Believe How Limp This Feels

Under Joe Carnahan’s direction and collaborative scriptwriting with Leon Chills, I had high hopes that the action would carry Shadow Force, despite its predictable plot. Having enjoyed his work on the remake of The A-Team and the action-packed film Boss Level featuring Frank Grillo, I anticipated thrilling, well-executed action sequences in this movie. However, I was taken aback by how disappointingly unimpressive the action turned out to be in this film.

The fight scenes are skillfully planned and executed by Washington and Sy, but some actors seem overly concerned with executing the choreography perfectly, which makes it appear as though they’re neglecting to truly convey the impact of each punch, kick, or strike. This lack of emotional investment in the action left me feeling detached from the scenes, as I couldn’t sense any real danger or tension, and it seemed as though the outcome had been predetermined long before the fighting began.

The film’s gun battles are less effective than the hand-to-hand fight scenes and sometimes border on comical. For instance, a character manages to survive after being hit by close-range shotgun blasts, and has enough stamina to mock the shooter. Moreover, many characters seem unaware of gun recoil, giving an impression that they don’t truly believe they are using weapons.

In addition to the subpar acting being a primary reason for “Shadow Force” falling short in terms of action, another aspect that could have been easily improved is the sound effects. The gunfire and explosions appear unnaturally soft, although it’s understandable that punch sounds in fight scenes don’t need to be over-the-top. However, they should have included some realistic thudding noises to complement the blows and make them seem more impactful. Regrettably, despite my affection for everyone associated with the movie, “Shadow Force” unfortunately leaves a mark on their filmographies that is hard to overlook.

Shadow Force is now in theaters.

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2025-05-10 00:15

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