The story owes a lot to Graham Greene's 'Our man in Havana' . The earlier film of that name is not perfect but certainly bears up well for the period. This later film looks like a throwback with hurried scenes, plot jumps and some frankly ham acting. I really don't know what they were thinking about. If I was being generous I would assume it's been very heavily edited...
Adapted by John Le Carré from his own novel this spy story is a dark comedy that is well written but ultimately an unsatisfying film. Pierce Brosnan plays disgraced MI6 agent Andy Osnard, a serial womaniser and sleazy spy who is sent to Panama where he needs to make an impression. Andy focuses his attention on Harry (Geoffrey Rush), a former Savile Row tailor who makes suits for all the local bigwigs. He's also a bit of a fraud and seriously in debt. Andy recruits him to pass on all the secrets his customers supposedly tell him and ~Harry sees a chance to sort his finances out. Both have their own agenda that quickly gets out of hand. In many ways this is Brosnan playing a spy the polar opposite of his 007 persona. He's not bad here and is clearly relishing the borderline corrupt character of Osnard. He and Rush are aided by a good support cast including Jamie Lee Curtis, Catherine McCormack and a miscast Brendan Gleeson. Daniel Radcliffe is also there in a very early role. The film has it's moments but it drifts along and is not quite funny enough or dramatic enough to make it memorable or entertaining.