In an ambitious yet lackluster attempt to establish a unique spy franchise, Netflix’s “Heart of Stone” starring Gal Gadot offers a paler imitation of classic thrillers like “Mission: Impossible.” Despite sporadic moments of gripping action within its two-hour runtime, the movie emerges as a bland choice in the “You might like” category.
Casting Gadot as Rachel Stone, a novice agent at Britain’s MI6, “Heart of Stone” starts by echoing the “Spy v. Spy” comic strip theme. Initially introduced as the one providing intel from the van, Stone’s character is revealed as a lethal operative for a covert group called the Charter. This spy network, known among her MI6 colleagues only as a legend, works to thwart threats through a high-tech AI called the Heart.
The enigmatic members of the Charter—identified only by playing-card names—include her imposing boss (Sophie Okonedo) and a proficient technical expert (Matthias Schweighöfer from “Army of Thieves”). The latter feeds Stone information, calculating probabilities in real-time on a device reminiscent of “Minority Report” and the CBS series “Person of Interest.”
The plot thickens as Stone’s actions are kept hidden from her adept MI6 team, led by Parker (Jamie Dornan). They find themselves chasing a skilled hacker (Alia Bhatt from “RRR”), who infiltrates their communication system during a 20-minute opening sequence set in the Italian Alps.
The movie takes an unexpected turn at this point, hinting at a potential thrill but failing to deliver. Instead, it spirals into a tangled web of spy v. spy v. spy, punctuated by visits to various international locations and scenes of Stone dishing out and enduring punishment.
Director Tom Harper, known for “The Aeronauts,” attempts to leverage Gadot’s inherent charm in “Heart of Stone.” However, the movie’s lack of distinctiveness leaves it feeling like a second-rate version of “Mission: Impossible.”
Gadot’s previous Netflix venture, “Red Notice,” had managed to infuse humor into the spy genre. In contrast, “Heart of Stone,” with its high points—such as a sequence on a blimp—does little to justify its consumption in entirety.
While no one owns the spy thriller genre, Gadot, even as a mortal who can’t deflect bullets, makes a compelling protagonist. However, the narrative structure of “Heart of Stone”, beginning in medias res and offering scant backstory, fails to distinguish Stone from countless other cinematic spies.
In the end, “Heart of Stone” comes across as a pastiche of various other thrillers. Though its heart may be in the right place, the rest of the elements seem misaligned.
“Heart of Stone” premieres on Netflix on August 11 and is rated PG-13.
