Image via AppleTV
On paper Ghosted should be a hit. With Dexter Fletcher (Bohemian Rhapsody) directing, alongside Ana de Armas (Ballerina) and Chris Evans (Lightyear) on romcom duties this Apple original should shine. There are guns, espionage, and globe-trotting escapades aplenty that should come together to form an epic action comedy. However, Ghosted is a good example of an A-list ensemble, too much money, and paper-thin plot being thrown together. A fact that simply makes no sense since Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, both Deadpool alumni, are behind this cinematic travesty.
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The fact that Cole (Chris Evans) is supposed to be incapable of finding a girlfriend, while Sadie (Ana de Armas) seems to have a similar boyfriend problem is beyond belief. These two are traditional movie star material that should theoretically be able to sell ice to eskimos on screen. The fact that Apple invested so heavily in this project and were convinced by the concoction of these A-list character actors playing at girlfriend boyfriend, demonstrates that a solid story should come before anything else. A fact that was clearly not part of the discussion when it came to giving Ghosted the greenlight.
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Irrespective of how Cole and Sadie connect, what follows is a by the numbers espionage story with fun and guns in the sun. There is bickering, bonding, and an eventual romantic entanglement that makes no more sense than anything else which is happening. Thankfully, big bad Leveque played by Adrien Brody saves the day by giving Ghosted some edge. To be honest, Brody looks like he might be in a different film, since his villain is fully formed and has some definition. He may lean into the stereotypes within his role, but there are some sinister little touches that make things worthwhile.
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However, beyond the presence of Brody and some awesome yet pointless cameos that bring nothing to the party, Ghosted is a genuine snoozefest. Both Ana de Armas and Chris Evans have done much better. Cole is phoned in long distance and Sadie feels like an amalgamation of so many special agents, that indifference seems like a poor definition of how bored audiences might get. Disappointment defines every moment of this slick and polished action comedy, begging the question, how long did the executives involved manage to keep their jobs after it was released. Best avoided unless you like to watch lacklustre thrillers with any sense of logic removed, Ghosted should have languished on the drawing board, until someone had the good sense to knock that single plot point into a waste basket. It would have saved everyone so much time and money.
Image via AppleTV
Ghosted is streaming now on AppleTV+.