A rather bored Jude Law plays an ex-spy who shows Blake Lively’s character the basics of James Bondian stuff in “The Rhythm Section.” (Paramount Pictures)

A rather bored Jude Law plays an ex-spy who shows Blake Lively’s character the basics of James Bondian stuff in “The Rhythm Section.” (Paramount Pictures)

The far-fetched premise pushes ‘Rhythm Section’ out of time

Blake Lively makes for a lively, if de-glammed, heroine, but this action thriller never clicks.

As Super Bowl weekend counterprogramming goes, “The Rhythm Section” is a good argument for watching football. Even a blowout.

This revenge scenario, made up of extremely far-fetched plot developments, is interesting only as a star turn for a thoroughly de-glammed Blake Lively. Otherwise, things are grim.

Lively plays a young woman of many aliases — Stephanie is her real name — whose life collapsed when her family died in a plane crash a couple of years ago. We find her at low ebb, prostituting herself to pay for a drug habit.

When a London journalist arrives and hints that the plane crash was actually a terrorist bombing, Stephanie straightens out. Her determination to get the people responsible for the attack leads her to disguises, wigs and one extremely capable mentor.

The mentor is a mysterious ex-spy (Jude Law, looking bored by it all). He’s alone on his Scottish estate, the perfect place for training montages and combat drills. (I was confused about how isolated this enclave was, and why the bad guys — who gain access to the same intel Stephanie has — couldn’t find the place as easily as our novice heroine.)

The twists and turns come courtesy of a source novel by Mark Burnell, who also adapted the screenplay. It may be of interest to note that producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson are longtime custodians of the James Bond franchise; was this film meant to kick off a new series?

Director Reed Morano’s resume includes the feature “I Think We’re Alone Now” and some Emmy-winning episodes of “The Handmaid’s Tale.” There are a couple of standout sequences, especially a brutal hand-to-hand fight between Stephanie and her spy tutor that takes place in a cramped kitchen, as well as a chase sequence through the streets of Tangier during which the camera never leaves the inside of her car.

The movie is more often clumsy and cliched, which keeps it from hitting any kind of stride. It has a bunch of notably ham-fisted musical cues, oldies trotted out at awkward moments. These baffling choices suggest a certain amount of post-production desperation.

Most of the actors are indistinct, although Sterling K. Brown (“This Is Us”) finds some quirky nuance in his ex-CIA operative, and Raza Jaffrey simmers nicely as the journalist who discovers Stephanie in her hellhole.

Blake Lively, most recently seen strutting through the chic tricks of “A Simple Favor,” gets extremely grungy here. She keeps the character from becoming a superwoman: Stephanie regularly makes mistakes during her lethal adventures, nearly getting herself killed on more than one occasion.

Lively would be a perfectly adept actress for a female quasi-007 series. But given this film’s muddled arrival, that gig might have to wait for a more coherent origin story.

“The Rhythm Section” (2 stars)

A muddled account of a troubled woman (Blake Lively), still grieving the loss of her family in a terrorist attack, who resolves to get the killers by becoming a lethal weapon herself. The movie is too cliched and far-fetched to really click, although Lively is adept at a flawed heroine. With Jude Law, Sterling K. Brown.

Rating: R, for violence

Opening Friday: Alderwood, Alderwood Mall, Everett Stadium, Galaxy Monroe, Marysville, Meridian, Pacific Place, Seattle 10, Thornton Place, Woodinville, Cascade Mall

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Everett P. Fog, 15, in front of an Everett mural along Colby Avenue on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Hello, Everett! No escape when your name is same as the town

Everett P. Fog, 15, sees and hears his first name wherever he goes. His middle name is also epic.

2025 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek edition (Provided by Nissan).
2025 Nissan Rogue has new Rock Creek edition

Enhanced outdoor capability is a boon for the more adventurous.

Futuristic Kona Limited Photo Provided By Hyundai Newsroom.
2025 Hyundai Kona Limited SUV Gets Roomier

All-Wheel Drive Option Add To All Trims

Children play and look up at a large whale figure hanging from the ceiling at the Imagine Children’s Museum (Olivia Vanni / The herald)
Fun for all ages: The best places for family adventures

From thrilling activities to relaxing outings, here’s where to make unforgettable family memories!

Jared Meads takes a breath after dunking in an ice bath in his back yard while his son Fallen, 5, reads off the water temperature on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Chill out: Dive into the cold plunge craze

Plungers say they get mental clarity and relief for ails in icy water in tubs, troughs and clubs.

Schack exhibit to highlight Camano Island watercolorists

“Four Decades of Friendship: John Ebner & John Ringen” will be on display Jan. 16 through Feb. 9.

XRT Trim Adds Rugged Features Designed For Light Off-Roading
Hyundai Introduces Smarter, More Capable Tucson Compact SUV For 2025

Innovative New Convenience And Safety Features Add Value

Sequoia photo provided by Toyota USA Newsroom
If Big Is Better, 2024 Toyota Sequoia Is Best

4WD Pro Hybrid With 3-Rows Elevates Full-Size

2025 Toyota Land Cruiser (Provided by Toyota).
2025 Toyota Land Cruiser revives its roots

After a 3-year hiatus, the go-anywhere SUV returns with a more adventurous vibe.

Enjoy the wilderness in the CX-50. Photo provided by Mazda USA Newsroom
2025 Mazda CX-50 Adds Hybrid Capability to Turbo Options

Line-Up Receives More Robust List Of Standard Equipment

Practical And Functional bZ4X basks in sunshine. Photo provided by Toyota Newsroom.
2024 bZ4X Puts Toyota Twist On All-Electric SUV’s

Modern Styling, Tech & All-Wheel Drive Highlight

Photo provided by Mazda USA Newsroom
2025 Mazda3 Turbo Premium Plus Hatch Delivers Value

Plus Functionality of AWD And G-Vectoring

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.