Spooks: The Greater Good ***
Ol’ Harry (Peter Firth) is back in this film spin-off of the BBC TV series – a comfort factor for fans. Titled Spooks: The Greater Good, fans can also be reassured that the film is not trying to be a glossy version of its small-screen self, rather in-keeping in style and still ‘very British’ in manner. There are no Jason Bournes here.
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After a high-level threat, terrorist Qasim (Elyes Gabel) absconds from an MI5 escort in London in an elaborate rescue mission, the American Secret Service questions MI5’s future value, and the blame sits squarely with MI5 Intelligence Chief Harry. He smells a rat from upper brass and disappears off the radar – later thought to be in league with Qasim and co, revealing top-level information. The powers-that-be (played by Tim McInnerny and Jennifer Ehle) hire decommissioned MI5 agent Will Holloway (Kit Harington) – Harry’s former protégé – to find the AWOL spook, and in turn, stop any more terror incidences happening in London.
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As it stands, The Greater Good is a perfectly serviceable piece of spy drama that revels in its London setting – never missing a beat to show off a London landmark. The UK’s love of CCTV paints part of the picture here too. Naturally, it still has to keep up with the Bournes of this world. The action sequences are less stylish (and less costly) though, with Harington jumping off facades around Southbank like a parkour fanatic, or going as far as Berlin with one lead.
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Firth is naturally thrilling in his deadpan delivery, crossing and double crossing every player, which is what keeps the storyline ticking along – that, and the editing and a sense of impending doom n’ gloom. The camp factor is injected by McInnerny as the agency’s chief who you expect to crack into Darling giggles at any second in his face-to-face confrontations. Ehle has little to play with, stuck mainly in a glass ‘cage’ making high-level decisions.
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At least the youngsters get out and about, with a determined Tuppence Middleton as spook June giving Harington’s Will a runaround for his money. Harington is sometimes deemed as a one-trick pony, but his (as of yet) ‘limited acting range’ seems to suit him admirably here, as he has to play his cards close to his chest as a frustrated Will in dealing with Harry.
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Spooks: The Greater Good is the ultimate extended TV episode, and though it’s bogged down by clunky scripting and overly forced dialogue, it has it’s delicious little gibes between characters, with Firth coming out the champion of the lot. It’s still early days to judge Harington in such a role but it’s by far a positive step in the right direction since Testament of Youth.
3/5 stars
By @FilmGazer
