If you were hoping that "Red Sparrow" was going to be the "Black Widow" movie that you haven't gotten yet from Marvel Studios, look further. This is not the glamorous action adventure thriller spy movie a la James Bond or Mission Impossible. This is closer to a methodical and slow burning spy drama like "Bridge Of Spies" or "A Most Wanted Man." Not only that, but the subject matter in this movie is absolutely not for everybody.
There are heavy plot elements in this film that should be a bit unsettling. I'm not just referring to some of the more obvious elements here like torture or rape, but the premise that is set up with why Jennifer Lawrence's characters goes down the rabbit hole of working as a spy for Russia that she finds herself in. It's kinda dark and bleak and hopeless for her character many times over, but it's also easy to root for her to see things through. What she needs to do to see things through is what should grab your attention to keep watching.
While not exactly a super exciting story to watch, and a plot progression that seems relatively obvious, the film does pay off at the end. The conclusion makes it easy to appreciate the movie more, after going through the dark journey that we had to experience. There were of course other things to like about the movie, like Jennifer Lawrence's performance, the little details that build up to the end, and a plot set piece involving Mary-Louise Parker. It's hardly a perfect spy drama though, as there were some story elements that I can call out as plot holes, but it didn't distract me too much.
Although I think I would have preferred a more exciting spy thriller over "Red Sparrow," I did appreciate what the movie was trying to do thematic-wise and plot-wise. I don't think I'll find myself watching it again, but it was at least worth checking out. That is if you're the type that would like this kind of spy movie.
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