The Recruit Review
by Homer Yen (homer_yen AT yahoo DOT com)February 4th, 2003
"The Recruit" Passes
by Homer Yen
(c) 2003
The good news about "The Recruit" is that it features three very watchable players in a cat and mouse thriller that possesses just enough charm and wit to sustain our interest. The bad news is that it never seems to reach the heights that it is destined for as a result of a sloppy third act that mires the film in a frenzied, confusing, and somewhat predictable ending. On top of that, if you were to make a list of the positives and negatives of the film, entries would be short in both categories. Thus, this film can be considered competent yet uninspiring or promising yet underwhelming. Take your pick.
The setup and buildup to the main plot of the film is the most enjoyable part. We meet Walter Burke (always enjoyable Al Pacino) as a smooth-talking but cool-as-a-cucumber recruiter for the CIA. As he puts it, he is a scary judge of talent. He takes interest in James Clayton (Colin Farrell). With James's scruffy good looks, charismatic personality, top-of-his-class intelligence, and a personal mystery that he wishes to solve, James has the right attributes to become a spy. Meanwhile, James is intrigued.
James and dozens of other wannabes are taken to The Farm, a testing center where CIA recruits train and develop their skills. Burke ominously reminds his students that "nothing is what it seems." They learn lie detection techniques, explosives handling, how to plant listening devices, and other neat tricks of spycraft. They are also tested under situations of duress that seem like situations on Fear Factor. But not all tests are painful, as in one scene where some of the recruits are taken to a local bar and challenged to pick up women. We believe that this might be how James Bond got his training.
As the film moves into the second act, the focus is on the mounting tension between James and Layla (Bridget Moynahan), both were earlier recruits, but are now field agents. Outwardly, they exude a sexual chemistry and a close bond. But Burke informs him that she is suspected of being a mole and wants James to use the trust that these two have developed to learn about her activities. Meanwhile, she becomes noticeably suspicious of James's sudden interest and playfully tells him that the craziest thing about being a spy is that "you never know if you're a mark or not."
The interplay between James and Layla gives us reason to root for both their safety and perhaps an eventual happy-twosome ending. And, the cloak and dagger atmosphere that is created as James skulks around CIA headquarters looking for damning evidence provides for moments of suspense. It's an amusing romp up until this point.
The final act, however, weighs down the momentum that it has been trying to generate. It's not that anything suddenly falls apart. However, while things should be getting more exciting and suspenseful, it seems to reduce itself to a ho-hum final pursuit followed by a very long exposition about why the evil guys do what they do. Certainly, everyone in the audience is expecting a bigger payoff. But despite this letdown, "The Recruit" is surefooted enough, paced well enough, and likable enough to earn a passing grade.
Grade: B
S: 1 out of 3
L: 2 out of 3
V: 2 out of 3
Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
