Gemini Man

Gemini Man casts Will Smith as Henry Brogan, an elite assassin whose plans for retirement are thrown into disarray after a man is sent to kill him – with the situation complicated by Henry’s realization that said man is actually his own clone. It’s a fairly standard storyline that’s employed to seriously erratic effect by Ang Lee, as the filmmaker, working from David Benioff, Billy Ray, and Darren Lemke’s script, delivers a lackadaisically paced drama that’s never quite able to wholeheartedly capture the viewer’s interest and attention – with the movie, for the most part, generally successful only in fits and starts. The less-than-captivating atmosphere is compounded by the seriously dodgy special effects used to bring Henry’s clone to life, as the mostly-digital character remains a hopeless distraction during each and every one of his many scenes. (It’s too bad, certainly, given that Smith is doing stellar work here as both protagonists, with this especially true during an electrifying interlude wherein his characters meet for the first time.) And although the picture does boast a handful of admittedly engrossing action sequences – there is, for example, a motorcycle chase early on that remains a highlight – Gemini Man ultimately comes off as a padded-out and overly conventional endeavor that seems determined to hold the viewer at arms length throughout.

** out of ****