Acceptable pacing, good acting, good music, good dramatic elements, good comedy elements, sweet dialogue. DISLIKES: Predictable overall, a bit sentimental, more drama than action, too much setup, perhaps a bit more musical variety, weak pacing moments, the action is mediocre at best.
Shadow Force is a film that packs a lot into one film and attempts to do so with a pace that shortens attention spans. The pacing is acceptable for much of the film, giving the feel of a three-part special of a classic cable series at the end of the season. It has enough details to give us a sense of the characters, but still finds a way to add that espionage touch to which the modern era has become accustomed. It has many dramatic elements, many of them heartfelt, as this small family is brought together under very strange circumstances. How do they connect? Part is a sweet, sentimental set of connections that delve into the elements of modern drama like Grey's Anatomy.
Director: Joe Carnahan
Writers: Joe Carnahan, Leon Chills
Stars: Kerry Washington, Omar Sy, Jahleel Kamara
Emotional bursts of joy and sadness are intertwined with direct, repetitive, yet powerful dialogue. That engagement is heartwarming, and I enjoyed some moments as the relationship was forged. Another part of the connection has to do with the dialogue, a collection of scenes filled with all sorts of arguments, from arguments about music to jokes about which of our protagonists is the best shot. It feels very realistic, if a little corny, but I felt it helped establish the direction of the family drama they were going for, and it integrates just enough humor to soften the excess sentimentality. Some great comedic moments emerge from these banter, especially from the character of Aunt, whose sass, attitude, and straightforward humor are as lethal as the Shadow Force itself. However, the most important component was the music. Yes, Shadow Force integrates a lot of music into its story, utilizing the power of Marvin Gaye to tell a story, while also introducing other melodies.
You'll have plenty of time with these hits, and many of them are tender and funny when the well-written dialogue helps enhance the inclusion of the music. Finally, for me, the performances balance everything out. Shadow Force's strengths are the superb performances by the cast, at least in terms of parenting and dramatics. Washington is a wonderful lead, bringing the tough but loving mother to life, balancing sass, unconditional boldness, and defiant love for her husband. Omar Sy is a bit more heavy-handed and repetitive, but the role of loving father and dutiful husband is very believable, and when he gets going with the action, he has good potential for exciting fight scenes if given a little more time. As for Jahleel, he deserves credit. He's suave, adorable, not too annoying, and is the epitome of the central axis that keeps everything together, especially when the musical aspects come into play and he simply has to sing. It's an endearing element, and the chemistry between the entire cast is quite impressive, including the many other characters/actors I didn't include.
However, the film's limitations make me think it's another example of overkill and overlabeling genres. Shadow Force has great potential to blend drama and action elements, but it doesn't fully utilize them. It's a film with a strong dramatic component that focuses more on world-building and the family aspect than the thriller elements suggested by the poster. In fact, I think it perhaps spent too much time on the family aspect. Shadow Force spends too much time on the family members talking about music, love, and how they must fulfill their mission rather than actually fighting, which gets a bit tiresome after a while.
This elite team seems lethal, but I didn't feel they were fully integrated into the plot or specialized enough to give each of them a unique look. I needed more time and space to appreciate this force, a little more grit and originality to support the Shadow Force name. Instead, I found more ways for the family to express their love, various curious stories, musical songs, and unnecessary details that interrupt the suspense and disrupt the pacing, offering a more bland film. It's not that I don't appreciate these forms of storytelling, but waiting for the action to arrive can be difficult when it never reaches its potential. The action in Shadow Force is lackluster compared to other scenes. I found the stakes to be low, the choreography somehow more dramatic/realistic than exciting, and aside from a few moments, quite forgettable and monotonous.
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