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Gemini Man (3D) (IMAX in some cinemas)

6/10

Stars: Will Smith, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Clive Owen, Benedict Wong, Linda Emond

Director: Ang Lee

Veteran government assassin Henry Brogan (Smith) finds he's being pursued by a young, cloned version of himself in this action-packed but slightly tired thriller, as the powers-that-be, led by Clive Owen's Verris, have decided, for reasons I never quite grasped, that Brogan and all those associated with him have to be erased from the face of the earth.

The first half-hour, with 3D excelling in the scene-setting, is exciting stuff, as the authorities first try more conventional methods of eliminating Brogan who, of course, disposes of them all.

The film's problems, however, begin once the main plot kicks in and the bad guys decide to send in the clones. The film wants to be an emotional drama as well as an action thriller, but the dialogue is dull and the drama ponderous. 'It's like watching the Hindenberg crashing into the Titanic,' remarks an ill-served Owen at one stage, apropos very little.

Still, the action continues to be swift, explosive and hard-hitting, with Winstead (good, as always) a feisty, gun-toting heroine as the agent who, initially assigned to keep surveillance on Brogan, all too soon finds herself on the run with him across two continents.

The clone does look like Smith, but vaguely odd as well, and has his older man's voice. It's adequate late-night fare.

David Quinlan

USA 2019. UK Distributor: Paramount. Colour by deluxe.
119 minutes. Not widescreen. UK certificate: 12A.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 0, Violence/Horror 1, Drugs 0, Swearing 1.

Review date: 07 Oct 2019