- Trending on RT
The Gray Man First Reviews: Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans Elevate an Action-Heavy Blockbuster
Critics are split on the netflix spy thriller, which looks and feels expensive and benefits from the charms of its big-name leads, but feels like a bit less than the sum of its parts..
TAGGED AS: Action , Netflix , streaming
Netflix’s latest action movie, The Gray Man , is also the biggest ever to arrive on the streaming service. With a reported budget of $200 million, the spy flick aims to compete with the studios’ summer blockbusters, and according to the first reviews of the movie, it does an outstanding job of it. Courtesy of some thrilling stunts directed by Avengers: Endgame helmers Joe and Anthony Russo and the charisma and chemistry of stars Ryan Gosling , Chris Evans , and Ana de Armas , The Gray Man might even be the perfect start to a popular new action franchise.
Here’s what critics are saying about The Gray Man :
Has Netflix scored a solid blockbuster?
The Russos have unleashed what may stand as the best pure action movie of 2022. – Don Shanahan, Every Movie Has a Lesson
The action is some of the best you’re likely to see this year – and yes, that includes Top Gun: Maverick . – Edward Douglas, The Weekend Warrior
Does it look expensive?
The Gray Man is Netflix’s most expensive movie ever, and it shows. – Hoai-Tran Bui, Slashfilm
Holy potatoes, did they put every dollar of it into a substantial extravaganza of mayhem… lavish enough to compete with the Jason Bourne films and the current Mission: Impossible and Fast and Furious juggernauts. – Don Shanahan, Every Movie Has a Lesson
It’s a Bond-level summer blockbuster. – Peter Debruge, Variety
Directors Anthony and Joe Russo have made a tentpole blockbuster with action and carnage on the scale of one of their Marvel movies. – Chris Bumbray, JoBlo’s Movie Network
Once the scale becomes such that computers need to step in and provide the special effects, this very expensive movie begins to look very cheap… Netflix did not get their money’s worth out of their VFX. – Matt Singer, ScreenCrush
(Photo by ©Netflix)
How does it compare to other Netflix movies?
The Gray Man feels like a step above the streamer’s past action movies, offering more exciting fight sequences, more uproarious humor, and a more completely entertaining movie experience. – Molly Freeman, Screen Rant
This [might not be] Netflix’s smartest action film, but it’s definitely one of the most fun. – Richard Trenholm, CNET
The cinematography is better than average for a Netflix movie, backing off the usual orange and teal. – Chris Bumbray, JoBlo’s Movie Network
This is the most exciting original action property Netflix has delivered since Bright . – Peter Debruge, Variety
It feels a step up from other Netflix blockbusters like Red Notice . – James Mottram, South China Morning Post
For a Netflix action picture with huge stars, The Gray Man is better, certainly, than Red Notice , but not as good as Extraction . – Jordan Hoffman, TV Guide
What about other big action movies in general?
The Gray Man is up there with the stylized likes of Atomic Blonde and might give John Wick a run for his money. – Richard Trenholm, CNET
It twists all of its Bourne and Bond influences into something quite different but equally exceptional. – Edward Douglas, The Weekend Warrior
None of The Gray Man’ s still-Bourne thrills are executed with the precise elegance of John Wick , the winking doggery of James Bond or the joyful craftsmanship of Mission: Impossible . – Jacob Oller, Paste Magazine
It feels closer in tone and spirit to Michael Bay’s gonzo ’90s action movies, where trivial details like logic and coherence took a backseat to adrenalized spectacle. – Matt Singer, ScreenCrush
So is the action good?
The Gray Man has some of the most bonkers action sequences I’ve seen, from a stunning hand-to-hand combat scene in a fireworks staging area to a daring escape from a crashing plane and a high-speed pursuit atop a runaway metro car in the middle of Prague. – Joey Morona, Cleveland Plain Dealer
The car chases are full of tactile, nail-biting stunts, the action scenes explosive, and the Russo brothers are the latest filmmakers to try their hand at replicating the heights of that Dark Knight Hong Kong fight scene. – Hoai-Tran Bui, Slashfilm
There’s one spectacular set piece set within a plaza in Prague that then goes onto a train, and it’s as good as anything from last year’s Shang-Chi , at least in terms of the action. – Edward Douglas, The Weekend Warrior
The action is non-stop if a little numbing in the way hundreds of people get mowed down without a drop of blood. – Chris Bumbray, JoBlo’s Movie Network
A ridiculous freefall sequence looks, even when not compared to its exhilarating peer in Mission: Impossible—Fallout , like Spirit Airlines flushed a GoPro. – Jacob Oller, Paste Magazine
How is the Gosling vs. Evans match-up?
Each time Gosling and Evans face-off, the only word for it is delightful. Their hand-to-hand battles are clever and frenetic. – Sherin Nicole, idobi.com
When Gosling and Evans go toe-to-toe — either with gibes or fists — they’re the most exhilarating scenes in The Gray Man . – Molly Freeman, Screen Rant
Gosling and Evans put in two brilliantly yin/yang performances. – Linda Marric, The Jewish Chronicle
You can’t help but get caught up in the sensation of seeing these two Hollywood stars duke it out in a battle of wills. – Matt Neglia, Next Best Picture
Does Ryan Gosling have the right action chops?
Gosling’s never done a major action movie on this level… He’s built his body up to almost Schwarzenegger level here and excels at all the mayhem. – Chris Bumbray, JoBlo’s Movie Network
Gosling, meanwhile, brings just the right amount of dry humor to the role; he hasn’t been this laid-back since playing the wheelman in Drive . – James Mottram, South China Morning Post
Gosling might be wasted for all his talents, but he’s at least always magnetic to watch even if he seems like he’s just on the cusp of having fun. – Hoai-Tran Bui, Slashfilm
As dull as this is, Gosling excels at it… [He] is the best part of a film that doesn’t seem to know how lucky it is to have him. – Jacob Oller, Paste Magazine
Is Chris Evans a good villain?
Evans seems to channel his character in Knives Out , taking glee in how evil he is – he’s basically anti-Captain America. – Chris Bumbray, JoBlo’s Movie Network
Chris Evans was always meant to be a character actor because he’s just so great in the role of a know-it-all sociopath who doesn’t put up with failure from those he hires. – Edward Douglas, The Weekend Warrior
Evans is a delight to see cut loose, acting comically unhinged and still retaining an intimidating presence. – Courtney Howard, Fresh Fiction
Evans’s performance is, alas, the only notable thing in this preposterous, globe-trotting movie. – Jordan Hoffman, TV Guide
How is Ana de Armas?
De Armas brings some depth to [her character]… and certainly proves her action chops after being underused in No Time to Die . – Molly Freeman, Screen Rant
Her attitude and style are impressive. She seems born to lead action movies and might be the next big female action star. – Chris Bumbray, JoBlo’s Movie Network
De Armas needs to star in more of everything, she refuses to be damselled, she does the saving and she excels at it. – Sherin Nicole, idobi.com
De Armas is given [a] somewhat thankless role… but boy, is she fun to watch. – Hoai-Tran Bui, Slashfilm
The script doesn’t even give her much of a personality apart from obligatory super-badassness… This is a waste of the white-hot star of the moment. – Richard Trenholm, CNET
Are there any other standouts in the cast?
Dhanush is a standout in The Gray Man … [His] action scenes are some of the best in the movie. – Molly Freeman, Screen Rant
The movie is almost stolen by Tamil star Dhanush, who waltzes in like he’s the lead in his action movie and seems like a no-brainer to get a spin-off. – Chris Bumbray, JoBlo’s Movie Network
Julia Butters, who plays Claire Fitzroy, is a star on the rise. – Danielle Solzman, Solzy at the Movies
How is the writing?
Screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely do a great job balancing emotional undertones along with the big action set pieces. – Courtney Howard, Fresh Fiction
Joe Russo along with his Marvel screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely have crafted an intriguing, even playful battle of wits between the charming CIA assassin with a heart and his unhinged adversary. – Joey Morona, Cleveland Plain Dealer
It has something thematically to say about trust and family and succeeds on all counts, not least because of a very smart script with a lot of pithy dialogue for Gosling and Evans in particular. – Pete Hammond, Deadline Hollywood Daily
The world-building is a bit exhausting, as it takes the focus away from Gosling’s Gentry too often. – Chris Bumbray, JoBlo’s Movie Network
The screenplay contains several silly moments with the kind of lines that a fifth grader could’ve come up with. – Matt Neglia, Next Best Picture
Should we try to see this in theaters?
It’s definitely recommended to watch The Gray Man on the biggest screen possible. – Molly Freeman, Screen Rant
Netflix won’t like me for saying this, but see it in a theater if you can. – Joey Morona, Cleveland Plain Dealer
It was especially fun to see it in a packed theater, where the crowd clearly ate it up… [but] it is edge-of-your-seat action, even if that means edge of your own couch. – Pete Hammond, Deadline Hollywood Daily
It definitely feels like a movie made for 4K TVs rather than theaters. – Chris Bumbray, JoBlo’s Movie Network
It’s a movie that’s made to be half-watched on Netflix while scrolling on your phone. – Hoai-Tran Bui, Slashfilm
Will we want a sequel?
Based on the initial outing, a Gray Man franchise seems like a smart bet. – Joey Morona, Cleveland Plain Dealer
If sequels are coming, as has been hinted, we’re ready for the next 49 shades of Gray. – John Nugent, Empire Magazine
There is some unfinished business to attend to once the credits roll, which will most likely lead to a sequel. Is it warranted? Probably not. – Matt Neglia, Next Best Picture
The Gray Man opens in select theaters on July 15, 2022 and streams on Netflix on July 22, 2022.
On an Apple device? Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Apple News .
Related News
TV Premiere Dates 2024
100 Best Movies on HBO and MAX (November 2024)
Netflix’s 100 Best Movies Right Now (November 2024)
Wicked First Reviews: “Everything a Movie Musical Should Be”
The Most Anticipated Movies of 2025
Movie & TV News
Featured on rt.
The Gladiator II Cast on Working with Ridley Scott
November 20, 2024
All Twilight Saga Movies, Ranked by Tomatometer
100 Best Movie Musicals of All Time
November 19, 2024
Top Headlines
- All Twilight Saga Movies, Ranked by Tomatometer –
- 50 Newest Verified Hot Movies –
- Best Movies of 2024: Best New Movies to Watch Now –
- 100 Best Movie Musicals of All Time –
- Best TV Shows of 2024: Best New Series to Watch Now –
- Best New Rom-Coms and Romance Movies –
Advertisement
Supported by
‘The Gray Man’ Review: Guy vs. Guy
Ryan Gosling plays a blasé government operative opposite Chris Evans’s showy psychopath in this globe-trotting spy action movie.
- Share full article
By Amy Nicholson
The frenetic caper “The Gray Man,” from the directors Anthony Russo and Joe Russo, boasts more vibrant color than the typical globe-trotting shoot-em-up about the C.I.A., a distinctly drab organization. The Russos’ lead, an agent known as Six (Ryan Gosling), wears a snazzy red suit with matching fingernail polish to his first onscreen assassination. Six works for his freedom, not his 401(k): He is a convicted murderer who was plucked from prison by a government suit (played by Billy Bob Thornton) and placed in a secret kill squadron. He seems to be OK with the deal, despite showing a light layer of fatigue that Gosling wears like a rain poncho.
The Russos’ more-is-more filmmaking ethos leaves little room for Gosling to explore Six’s complexities. Six’s opening hit goes askew, shattering his job security. And as this extravagant adventure sprints across 10 countries, including Thailand and Azerbaijan, Six remains unflappably blasé. “I get it, you’re glib,” Thornton’s character says to him. So is every other person in the movie, a funny, if indistinguishable, blitz of quipping colleagues, snarky villains (including the main bad guy, a heavy played by Chris Evans) and a hardened cancer patient (Alfre Woodard) who glowers, “If you say anything even remotely sympathetic, I will shoot you.”
The film’s writers — Joe Russo along with Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, frequent collaborators on the brothers’ films — have created a screenplay that is an assault of amusement; a barrage of bullets and one-liners. The razzle-dazzle does quite a bit to invigorate what is at its core a routine tale. (It comes as no shock that the real enemy is, as ever, the C.I.A. itself, in a story that contains no fewer than three all-too-convenient explosions.) Yet the frenzy is also distracting to the brink of self-sabotage. An early fight scene is jazzed with so many spliced-in shots of smoke and fireworks that one worries the Russos are insecure about Gosling’s ability to execute his stunts. Thankfully, the film grows in confidence and inventiveness. In later sequences, Six doggedly rescues himself from a tumbling plane, a trap door and a set of handcuffs.
Gosling and Evans appear to have made an effort to build biceps even bigger than the barrels of their automatic rifles. Evans, whom the Russos have directed as Captain America several times, appears delighted to play a self-proclaimed sociopath who is so bloodthirsty that actual sociopaths ought to sue for defamation. “Ho ho ho!” he chortles, firing a machine gun. The character is too outrageous for any believable menace, but Evans gives him a mustachioed gusto.
The caffeinated cuts and pacing never allow the audience to find its footing in the film’s large, expensive set pieces, which prevents the action from becoming truly thrilling. The best brawl is one of the smallest: It centers on two supporting players (Ana de Armas and Dhanush , a star of Tamil cinema) who strangle each other with a single cable at the same time. Note the moment during a strenuous tramway shootout when Six uses the reflection in a mirrored building to defeat a goon — it’s a clever detail in a film careening full speed ahead.
The Gray Man Rated PG-13 for sprees of violence and profanity. Running time: 2 hours 2 minutes. Watch on Netflix.
Explore More in TV and Movies
Not sure what to watch next we can help..
A ‘Wicked’ Tearful Talk : Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, the stars of the new movie, reflected on their long ride together , getting through Covid and the actors’ strike, and avoiding “playing to the green.”
Ridley Scott Returns to the Arena : The director of “Gladiator II” speaks his mind on rejected sequel ideas, Joaquin Phoenix’s plan to quit the original and working with a “fractious” Denzel Washington.
The Clint Squint : When Clint Eastwood narrows his eyes, pay attention. The master of the big screen is using them to convey seduction, intimidation, mystery and more .
Streaming Guides: If you are overwhelmed by the endless options, don’t despair — we put together the best offerings on Netflix , Max , Disney+ , Amazon Prime and Hulu to make choosing your next binge a little easier.
Watching Newsletter: Sign up to get recommendations on the best films and TV shows to stream and watch, delivered to your inbox.
Screen Rant
The gray man review: gosling & evans deliver in fun action franchise starter.
Your changes have been saved
Email is sent
Email has already been sent
You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Streaming Release Date Revealed
Clint eastwood's juror no. 2 streaming release date revealed, john wayne's utterly bizarre star wars cameo was only spotted 30 years later.
Netflix's latest attempt at the action movie blockbuster is The Gray Man , which is based on Mark Greaney's 2009 spy thriller novel. For The Gray Man , directors Anthony and Joe Russo re-team with a few of their Marvel Cinematic Universe collaborators, including writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, as well as Captain America himself Chris Evans. For their second directorial effort since closing out the MCU's Phase 3 with Avengers: Endgame , the Russos assembled a star-studded cast: Ryan Gosling, Ana de Armas, Regé-Jean Page, Billy Bob Thornton and Dhanush. The Gray Man is a spiritual throwback to 80s and 90s action movies, with pulse-pounding fight scenes, delightfully cheesy dialogue, and a wickedly fun villain.
In The Gray Man , Gosling stars as action hero Sierra Six , a member of a covert team within the CIA made up of former criminals recruited by Donald Fitzroy (Thornton) to carry out off-the-books assassinations. When Six is enlisted by the CIA's Denny Carmichael (Page) to eliminate a target, the mission turns out to be more complicated than expected. Six is forced to go on the run, leaving Carmichael to call in the psychopathic mercenary Lloyd Hansen (Evans). Six calls in favors from old friends like former CIA ally Margaret Cahill (Alfre Woodard), and gets help from CIA agent Dani Miranda (de Armas) in order to survive all the killers Hansen drafts to hunt him, including the formidable Avik San (Dhanush). Though Six is one of the CIA's best, it remains to be seen if he'll be able to escape the situation with his life and rescue Fitzroy's niece Claire (Julia Butters) in the process.
Related: Every Movie Coming To Theaters In July 2022
The story of The Gray Man , as adapted by Markus and McFeely, is a little convoluted and the movie glosses over much of the CIA politics surrounding the Sierra program, focusing instead on the action set pieces and developing the personalities of its characters — particularly Gosling's Six and Evans' Lloyd. The script itself is chock full of cheesy quips, including, but not even remotely limited to, a comment about Gosling looking like a Ken doll and an order to "make him dead." These are all delivered with just the right amount of panache by Evans, who's devilishly electric as the sociopathic villain. Gosling's Six balances out the outrageous personality of Lloyd with a more stoic and glib action hero, but he's no less entertaining. In fact, when Gosling and Evans go toe-to-toe — either with gibes or fists — they're the most exhilarating scenes in The Gray Man . The Russos knew what they were doing when they cast Evans and Gosling, and the actors deftly deliver performances that feel deliberately tongue-in-cheek rather than overly grim.
Beyond Gosling and Evans, The Gray Man has an outstanding supporting cast, who help to deliver the exciting action and personality that make the movie so entertaining. The supporting cast don't get nearly as much to work with, but they each do well with what they have. De Armas brings some depth to Dani as she works alongside Gosling's Six, and certainly proves her action chops after being underused in No Time to Die . Thornton, Woodard and Butters are serviceable in their supporting roles, but don't necessarily outshine the stars. Dhanush, on the other hand, is a standout in The Gray Man . Though he has a small role, his character is fiercely brutal and proves to be an intimidating foe for Six. His screen presence is such that Dhanush's action scenes are some of the best in the movie. However, if there are casualties of The Gray Man script, it's Page as Denny and Jessica Henwick as Suzanne, both of whom fail to strike the right tone for the movie and who are afforded no help by their own ridiculous dialogue.
Overall, the Russo brothers deliver a thrilling summer popcorn movie with The Gray Man that's elevated by the charismatic performances of Gosling and Evans. In terms of Netflix releases, the movie is akin to 6 Underground and Red Notice — both of which are anchored by Ryan Reynolds — and has similar sensibilities in terms of being a globe-trotting action/adventure movie, but with a focus on espionage. What's more, The Gray Man doesn't rely on Reynolds' specific brand of humor, instead playing to Gosling and Evans' different strengths in terms of comedy. While Netflix viewers may have their own opinions, The Gray Man feels like a step above the streamer's past action movies, offering more exciting fight sequences, more uproarious humor and a more completely entertaining movie experience.
As such, The Gray Man is certainly worth checking out for anyone remotely interested in the story, cast or filmmakers. Because of the excellently executed action scenes, those who are able would do well with watching The Gray Man in theaters as it heightens the experience. At the very least, it's definitely recommended to watch The Gray Man on the biggest screen possible, even for those who view the movie after its streaming release on Netflix. Between the Russos behind the camera and the talent in front of it, The Gray Man is a fun and exciting action thriller. It may be in the vein of cheesy 80s and 90s action movies, but that makes The Gray Man all the more entertaining and rewatchable.
Next: Neon Lights Review: Psychological Thriller Quickly Loses The Plot
The Gray Man releases in limited theaters on Friday, July 15, followed by a Netflix streaming release on Friday, July 22. The film is 129 minutes long and rated PG-13 for intense sequences of strong violence, and strong language.
The Gray Man
Anthony and Joe Russo's The Gray Man is based on the novel of the same name by Mark Greaney. It follows the covert assassin known as Sierra Six (Ryan Gosling) when he obtains sensitive information implicating his handler in the U.S. Government in a corruption scandal. Labeled a fugitive and hunted by a relentlessly violent agency fixer (Chris Evans), Six must prove both his innocence and his former employer's guilt with the help of CIA agent Dani Miranda (Ana de Armas).
Key Release Dates
- Movie Reviews
- 3.5 star movies
IMAGES
VIDEO