In an ambitious attempt to forge a spy franchise around Gal Gadot, “Heart of Stone” resembles a budget version of “Mission: Impossible,” ultimately failing to fully leverage the star’s magnetic presence. Despite sporadic moments of intense action throughout its two-hour runtime, this Netflix film comes across as a passable yet lackluster addition to the “Recommended for You” list—a movie you might not find quite satisfying.
Presenting an almost Mad magazine-like take on the “Spy vs. Spy” comic strip, the somewhat intriguing plot places Gadot in the role of Rachel Stone, introduced as a novice agent at Britain’s MI6, tasked with providing information to field operatives from the safety of a van. However, it’s revealed that Stone is actually a lethal operative within a shadowy organization known as the Charter, a legendary spy network that her MI6 colleagues only consider a myth. This group utilizes an advanced AI named the Heart to counter threats.
Operating under aliases based on playing cards (like the Jack of Hearts), Stone’s contacts within the Charter include her authoritative boss (Sophie Okonedo) and a skilled tech expert (Matthias Schweighöfer from “Army of Thieves”) who feeds her real-time information via an earpiece, assessing probabilities using technology reminiscent of a blend between “Minority Report” and the TV series “Person of Interest.”
All this covert activity transpires unbeknownst to Stone’s crack MI6 team, led by Parker (Jamie Dornan, a few years removed from his “Fifty Shades of Grey” days). The team pursues a proficient hacker (Alia Bhatt from “RRR”), who cunningly infiltrates their communication systems during a 20-minute pre-credits sequence set in the Italian Alps.
At this juncture, “Heart of Stone” takes an unexpected turn, injecting a glimmer of hope into the film that, unfortunately, doesn’t fully materialize. The plot devolves into a somewhat intricate web of spy versus spy dynamics, meandering through various global locales while allowing Stone to both dispense and endure considerable punishment.
Helmed by Tom Harper (whose previous streaming effort, “The Aeronauts,” had similar issues staying afloat), “Heart of Stone” capitalizes on Gadot’s inherent charm – casting a ruthless agent with a tender side—yet lacks the distinct qualities required to elevate it beyond being a mere imitation of “Mission: Impossible.”
Unlike Gadot’s previous action-packed endeavor for Netflix, “Red Notice,” which infused playfulness and humor into the familiar genre, “Heart of Stone” lacks the same energy. Even the film’s standout action sequences, like one set aboard a blimp, struggle to validate enduring the entire movie.
Granted, no single entity owns the realm of thriller cinema, and Gadot remains a captivating lead, even when playing a mortal who can’t dodge bullets. However, the narrative structure of “Heart of Stone,” commencing in the middle and offering limited backstory, fails to distinguish Stone from the myriad other cinematic spies.
Ultimately, the film feels like a collage of recycled elements from other movies, and while its intentions might be noble, it’s the disjointed pieces that leave an indelible mark.
“Heart of Stone” premieres on August 11th, exclusively on Netflix. It carries a PG-13 rating.