GUY RITCHIE’S THE COVENANT (2023)

Maybe Guy Ritchie needs to slow down a bit and take some more care in the product he’s putting out as his latest, The Covenant, is a poorly paced, distracted, half-hearted retelling of a remarkable story that is rescued only by the work of its stars. 

When an ambush leaves US Army Sergeant John Kinley (Jake Gyllenhaal) fighting for his life, an Afghan interpreter named Ahmed (Dar Salim) risks life and limb to save him, resulting in him becoming one of the Taliban’s most wanted and him having to flee with his family until Kinley decides to get them out himself. It first must be said that the story being told here, one that is not true in and of itself, but more of an amalgamation of similar tales, is truly inspiring and highlights those who more often than not did not receive the recognition deserved for their service. That being said, Ritchie’s take is simplistic here with the visuals, sound, and acting far superior to any other component of the film. Salim is the standout, completely overshadowing Gyllenhaal at every turn with a steady, confident performance. While Gyllenhaal isn’t delivering a poor performance, the character he is given lacks dimension and emotional range; it’s difficult to get excited about him. The same is true for Alexander Ludwig’s minor character and Antony Starr’s simplistic macho role; it’s all been seen before. Each line of dialogue feels as though it was ripped from a prior war project, each supporting character a stereotype played out on screen countless times before.

Perhaps that is the true issue at the core of this harrowing tale, that war films are so plentiful that a truly unique idea and presentation is needed for one to truly succeed. The Covenant is not that film; the engrossing story is present, but it plays out over the course of many boring, low-octane scenes. When the action scenes arise, they certainly deliver with immersive camerawork and choreography that is difficult to look away from. Sadly, there isn’t much of that. Nor are the later scenes once Gyllenhaal’s Kinley returns for Ahmed and his family all that believable. What starts out as an exceptional tale of bravery on the part of Salim’s Ahmed turns into an “America to the rescue” story as per usual, this time in the middle of America’s longest war. It’s all just exhausting at this point.

Fleshed out more and with less of an eye on the technical aspects and more on the plot, The Covenant could have been something great. Instead, it’s just another “oorah” cash grab.

Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant hits theaters this Friday.

Rating: 2/5