Hollywood

Why Chris Evans’ and Ana de Armas’ new film should remain ghosted

Director Dexter Fletcher’s latest effort tries to balance romance, comedy and action but falters in all respects.

‘Ghosted’ is a rom-com/action film starring Chris Evans and Ana de Armas, whose poses here aren’t awkward at all. (Apple TV+ pic)

They say there are red flags one should look out for before starting a relationship, whether that person is too controlling, has poor personal hygiene, or still texts their ex every day.

Chris Evans’ character in the Apple TV+ film “Ghosted” comes with at least one major red flag, although this being a Hollywood product, being attractive is apparently enough of a redeeming quality.

“Captain America” himself plays a bee farmer, Cole, who meets Ana de Armas’ Sadie at a farmers’ market. The two start arguing about how much effort it takes to care for a plant – a not entirely subtle allegory about relationships – and, after she leaves in anger, a vendor convinces him they were actually flirting.

Cole then runs after Sadie and they end up going out on a day-long date, because that’s how romances realistically work in this world. All seems well and good, until, much to his dismay, she ghosts him thereafter.

Long story short, he manages to track her down and follows her all the way to London, which is where things get interesting, at least on paper: Cole is kidnapped by some arms dealers who think he is a CIA operative known as the Taxman.

It turns out Sadie is the actual Taxman (jeng jeng jeng), and she shows up before he can be tortured and rescues him, which, admittedly, is a nice switcheroo on the ol’ damsel in distress trope.

Cole falls for Sadie after their first romantic day together – although this is assuredly not an ideal second date. (Apple TV+ pic)

From then on, poor, hapless stalkery Cole is pulled into Sadie’s world of international espionage. Of paramount importance is that they have to stop the master criminal Leveque (Adrien Brody) from obtaining and selling the passcodes of a deadly super weapon (there’s that MacGuffin plot device again).

Right then: attractive leads? Check. Far-fetched romance? Check. Action sequences with guns blazing and wild chases? Check.

With all those boxes ticked, you’d reckon this film would be a slam dunk for Apple TV+. However, its formulaic unoriginality proves to be its downfall, with viewers and critics calling the plot so generic that an artificial intelligence could have written it.

This marks the third movie Evans and de Armas are in together, having previously co-starred in “Knives Out” and Netflix’s “The Gray Man”. Both are more than capable actors and, let’s face it, aren’t hard on the eye – and yet confoundingly, in “Ghosted”, there is an evident lack of chemistry between them.

To wit: the number of times people around them say “you two should get a room” or point out their sexual tension makes it feel like the movie is trying too hard to convince you of the fact.

Now Sadie has to get Cole home safe after he’s embroiled in her espionage world. See what happens when you stalk someone? (Apple TV+ pic)

It also doesn’t help that, as mentioned above, Cole is a walking red flag. He’s clingy. He sends her dozens of texts over two days despite having only met her once. And he follows her abroad as a grand romantic gesture.

In any other film, he would have been a creep and a suspect, not a charming protagonist.

Brody’s Leveque has the potential to be a moustache-twirling baddie, but given that he works for a buyer who constantly threatens him with death, it undercuts his capability to be truly menacing or terrifying. Still, he’s a snappy dresser, we’ll give him that.

As for the action scenes, director Dexter Fletcher (“Rocketman”) couldn’t help himself but insert too many songs during fights that are meant to be intense. When done well, as in “Deadpool”, it works – but here, more often than not, it simply doesn’t feel earned.

As a result, each time the movie feels like it could evoke actual emotion or a sense of urgency, it’s taken away just as quickly.

That all said, one good thing about “Ghosted” are the entertaining cameos by various celebs who play bounty hunters vying for the price placed on Cole’s head. No spoilers, but see if you can spot them all.

So, what’s the final verdict? Well, if you are looking for a fun movie with exciting action scenes and two charismatic leads who actually have chemistry, you’d be better off watching “Mr and Mrs Smith” instead.

‘Ghosted’ is streaming on Apple TV+.

Related Posts

No Hard Feelings: Jennifer Lawrence gets foul-mouthed in the new trailer for the raunchy comedy.

Jennifer Lawrence takes on a lighter-hearted fare from the writer and director of Good Boys and plays with conventions once again. Late last year, Jennifer Lawrence had returned to her…

Margot Robbie arrives at Jimmy Kimmel Live! flaunting her legs in a polka dot mini dress, albeit with a plaster on her knee.

She’s set to play a real-life Barbie in a new film directed by Greta Gerwig. And Margot Robbie was all dolled up as she arrived at the studios of Jimmy Kimmel Live!…

Zendaya slays the red carpet at the 2023 NAACP Image Awards with two jaw-dropping outfits, featuring a vintage Versace dress and a daring white co-ord that showcase her fashion prowess.

At the 2023 NAACP Image Awards held in Downtown Los Angeles, Zendaya made a lasting impression with two unforgettable looks that turned heads and showcased her impeccable fashion sense….

Leonardo DiCaprio, 48, and Martin Scorsese, 80, are dapper in sleek suits as they hang out at the Cannes Film Festival… after their new movie received a nine-minute ovation

Leonardo DiCaprio and renowned filmmaker, Martin Scorsese, dressed to impress as they attended the glitzy Air Mail Party during the 76th Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday. The Apple TV+ film, Killers Of The…

“This is a person that young girls will be looking up to”: Jennifer Lawrence Refused to Lose Weight for $2.9B Franchise to Set Body Positivity for Women.

Actress Jennifer Lawrence has been a part of the entertainment industry for a long time now. The actress got her first minor role in the TV pilot Company Town (2006)….

Margot Robbie has added “rollerskate dance” to her repertoire of athletic prowess.

Margot Robbi’s new movie Barbie is basically all we’ve been talking about since it was announced, and she’s just got us even more excited in her interview with Vogue US….