The Amateur (2025)

Implausible & Disappointing Spy Thriller - The Amateur review by GI

A moderately entertaining espionage thriller that has the icing of a gritty Bourne/Mission Impossible style but the actual cake is tasteless and thoroughly implausible. The Amateur in question is nerdy CIA computer cryptologist, Heller (Rami Malek), who is bereft when his beloved wife is killed by terrorists (he does spend a lot of the film still hallucinating about her though!). Finding his boss, a stereotypical bully (Holt McCallany), won't do anything about it Heller effectively blackmails him (because he's found out about illegal black ops) to train him as a field agent so he can go on a revenge trip around Europe. Malek is unconvincing as the man who isn't a killer (this is emphasised a lot) but manages to do so in some imaginative ways as he globetrots with ease finding professional terrorists also very easily. The film helpfully tells you what city he moves to even giving very helpful longitude and latitudes references in case you want to look them up! There are a couple of interesting set pieces but really this is all far too daft for its own good and the finale is almost laughable as he confronts the big baddie (Michael Stuhlbarg). Laurence Fishburne costars as the tired, overweight CIA trainer eventually sent to stop the hero. I did spot Marthe Keller in a cameo which was a nice touch as she appeared in a 1981 version of this story and Jon Bernthal has a small, equally pointless role. Overall this is a film that fails to convince. The hero, despite apparently being totally out of his depth the field manages to succeed without much effort and all the intelligence agencies around the world can't seem to stop him. Unfortunately the action, what there is, fails to make up for it. Malek just doesn't convince I'm afraid even in the emotional moments when he has to remind himself, and us by the way, why he's killing people.

Fun in the Moment, but it Fades Fast - The Amateur review by griggs

The Amateur feels more like a gripping 1970s thriller than the usual bang-bang spy fare we get today. Even the big moments unfold steadily, which I quite liked. Much of it feels familiar—not just from the 1981 original but countless spy flicks and telly dramas. Shifty bosses, confused agents, and the odd twist. It's fun in the moment, but it fades fast.

Undemanding - The Amateur review by AER

This the ultimate film to watch on a long haul flight. It's the equivalent of a page-turning holiday read. Undemanding as they come, this the type of movie that came out every week in the 1990s and I'm happy that they are back. You know it's gonna be corny-a-clock when Laurence Fishburne turns up as 'mentor' and Rami Malek elevates the material from being a Liam Neeson cast off. A good cast shows up in thankless supporting roles. Only Holt McCallany stand out as the fiendish CIA puppetmaster. The villains Malek's Heller is targetting barely register. Features cameos from Jon Bernthal, Marthe Keller, Michael Stuhlberg, Joseph Millson, and Julianne Nicholson.

Slight but entertaining. And very, very undemanding. slightly above average.