“In the Grey” is written and directed by Guy Ritchie (The Gentlemen, Snatch) and stars Henry Cavill (Man of Steel, Mission: Impossible – Fallout), Jake Gyllenhaal (Stronger, Spider-Man: Far from Home), Eiza González (Baby Driver, Ambulance), Kristofer Hivju (Force Majeure, Game of Thrones), Fisher Stevens (Hackers, Short Circuit), and Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl, Saltburn). This film is about a group of operatives who try to recover a billion dollar debt from a criminal organization.

My relationship with Guy Ritichie is iffy. I like some of his movies, that is of the ones I have seen. In fact, while it may have the DNA of a typical Jason Statham flick, I still remember really enjoying “Wrath of Man.” I thought it was well shot, had great action, and contained likable characters.

While “In the Grey” may not have Jason Statham, it does come packed with a ton of other stars including Henry Cavill, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Eiza González just to name a few. It is always nice when a movie is able to have notable, talented names in front of and behind the camera. So, my question is… Why did everyone waste their talent on this absolute chore of a movie?

This was BORING. And it is really weird to say that, because I could tell that this movie felt like it came from a singular vision. It is definitely Guy Ritchie’s film through and through based on the creative editing choices, the fast pacing, and unique layout of the screenplay. Also, note the use of the word “fast.” If your movie is fast, but also boring, then that is a different kind of special.

I am not going to pretend that “In the Grey” does not have anything good in it. I just wish that this talented, A-List cast who I enjoyed in other projects could have delivered something just as solid as some of their previous work. This movie feels like a step down for them, and I would not go as far as to blame the talent specifically.

That said, there are positives. A lot of the camerawork was eye-popping. Granted, I thought the movie’s color palette was quite underwhelming and looked more like something that belonged on Netflix. But there were quite a few shots I liked, including one at the beginning where we see Maggie Q’s character falling to the side. It reminded me of a similar shot of the same thing happening in “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come” earlier this year. The locations and production design are also neat. The set up of the movie does a halfway decent job at giving a sense of the tone, but what followed did not quite live up to what was given in the beginning.

The more I try to think of redeeming qualities, the more I wish I were talking about better movies released just a short time before this one like “Mortal Kombat II” or “Lorne.” While those are not the best movies I have seen in recent memory, I found something in those movies that this one tends to lack. Personality. Perhaps it is unfair of me to say that considering I already said that this film feels like a singular vision from Guy Ritchie. After all, it technically is. He wrote the movie itself in addition to directing it. If anything, this film reminds me a lot of “The Gentlemen.” Like this movie, that one contains a stacked cast, moves at a breakneck pace, and has a fair amount of action. I think I had more fun with “The Gentlemen” than I did watching this film, partially because I got to watch a rather unhinged Matthew McConaughey.

While I could tell that the actors were doing their best with the characters, they did not stand out in any significant way. Perhaps “In the Grey” does have personality, but said personality is not sitting well with me. You know that saying “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover?” My apologies, I think that saying lacks merit when “In the Grey” sometimes emits a sense of so-called personality that could best be described as grey.

Sometimes the characters will have a good line or two, and other times they won’t. No, seriously. For all I know, maybe the dialogue reads well, but as I watched certain scenes in this movie, the dialogue came off as something one would find in a “Saturday Night Live” parody of a generic action film. It is sometimes overemphasized, uninspired, and somewhat cliche. The movie itself does not entirely feel cliche. Getting from point A to point B is not exactly done in the most usual of manners, but the specific manners did not sit well with me.

In today’s world where second-screen viewing is a common occurrence for some people, “In the Grey” seems to challenge that concept with its constant need to put captions for certain things that may matter throughout the movie. I am not saying that this movie feels like it was designed to cater to the second-screen viewer. In fact, if you partake in second-screen viewing for everything you watch now, good luck with this movie, because the dialogue is some of the least digestible I remember hearing. I wish I could quote some of the characters for you off the top of my head, but I cannot, because every line is given as quickly as the other. The way the dialogue is laid out during the entire movie reminds me of an extended YouTube vlog where there happens to be a jumpcut every five seconds. I am not saying this movie has noticeable jumpcuts, but if you like nonstop talking, this movie is probably going to be Heaven for you.

I like my auteur directors. Christopher Nolan, Quentin Tarantino, and Denis Villeneuve are a few that come to mind. I have come to this conclusion previously, but if anything, “In the Grey” reminds me that maybe Guy Ritchie’s style is not exactly my jam. He is quick, and I do not mind quick. But there is no room to breathe. I would hate to see him do a “Run Lola Run” remake. Also, I do not care what you all think. That movie sucks.

In the end, “In the Grey” is a completely fitting title for what is ultimately one of the dullest flicks of the year so far. After seeing this movie, I am starting to question whether my artistic tastes line up with Guy Ritchie’s. I am sure he is a friendly human being and could be interesting to work with. But this movie is not quite doing it for me. On top of the well-known director, the movie comes with an A-list cast who deserve a script that is much more in line with their talents. I am probably not going to remember “In the Grey” for any reason other than the fact that it nearly put me to sleep. I am going to give “In the Grey” a 3/10.

“In the Grey” is now available to rent or by on VOD.

Thanks for reading this review! If you have not done so already, be sure to check out my latest episode of Movie Requests, featuring “Clerks” actor Brian O’Halloran! In this video I review his recommendation, the 1970 war film “Patton.” To hear my thoughts, click the video above! Be sure to like the video if you enjoyed it and subscribe to my YouTube channel if you want to see more new episodes as soon as they drop! They will also be posted here on Flicknerd.com, but if you want the fastest way to view the episode, subscribing to my channel will do the trick.

My next review is going to be for “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu.” Stay tuned! Also coming soon, I will be sharing my thoughts on “I Love Boosters,” “Backrooms,” “Masters of the Universe,” “Another World,” and “The Breadwinner.” If you want to see these reviews and more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “In the Grey?” What did you think about it? Or, what are some Guy Ritchie movies that you enjoy? I liked one of his more recent features, “Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre.” It was a lot of fun. I did not have a chance to review it a few years ago, but if I saw it early enough to do so, I would have given the film a positive score. Let me know your favorites down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!