Making a concerted effort to establish a spy franchise around Gal Gadot, “Heart of Stone” presents itself as a budget-friendly rendition of “Mission: Impossible,” often diluting even Gadot’s magnetic charisma. Despite sporadic moments of gripping action throughout its two-hour runtime, this Netflix production comes across as an unremarkable addition to the “Recommended for you” section, unfortunately lacking the potential for resonance.
Almost resembling a satirical interpretation from Mad magazine inspired by the “Spy vs. Spy” comic strip, the partially intriguing premise casts Gadot as Rachel Stone. Initially introduced as a rookie agent within Britain’s MI6, Stone’s role entails van surveillance and the provision of intelligence to seasoned field operatives. However, a revelation unfolds that Stone is in fact a formidable operative within the enigmatic Charter organization, a clandestine spy network that remains nothing more than a legend amongst her MI6 colleagues. The Charter operates using an advanced AI referred to as the Heart.
Designated by aliases based on playing cards (including the likes of Jack of Hearts), Stone’s Charter contacts include her commanding superior (Sophie Okonedo) and an adept tech specialist (Matthias Schweighöfer from “Army of Thieves”) who feeds real-time information to her through a device that amalgamates elements reminiscent of “Minority Report” and the TV series “Person of Interest.”
All these covert activities unfold unbeknownst to Stone’s capable MI6 team, led by Parker (Jamie Dornan, a few years removed from his role in “Fifty Shades of Grey”). Their pursuit involves a skilled hacker (Alia Bhatt from “RRR”) who breaches their communication system during a pre-credits sequence set in the Italian Alps.
Around this juncture, “Heart of Stone” takes an unexpected turn, briefly offering a glimmer of promise that unfortunately remains unfulfilled. Instead, the plot delves into a somewhat intricate spy-versus-spy scenario, traversing diverse global locations while affording Stone the opportunity to both unleash and endure considerable action.
Helmed by director Tom Harper (whose previous streaming endeavor, “The Aeronauts,” encountered a similar trajectory), “Heart of Stone” relies on Gadot’s inherent likability as a ruthless agent with emotional depth, yet it falls short of delivering unique elements that would distinguish it from a mere “Mission: Impossible” imitation.
In contrast, Gadot’s earlier action-packed Netflix endeavor, “Red Notice,” injected playfulness and humor into the well-worn genre. In comparison, even the standout sequences here – such as the one set in and around a blimp – fail to validate the overall viewing experience.
Acknowledging that no single entity possesses exclusive rights to this thriller archetype, Gadot remains a captivating lead even when portraying a mortal unable to evade bullets. Nonetheless, the narrative structure of “Heart of Stone,” commencing mid-story and providing scant backstory to differentiate Stone from countless other cinematic spies, ultimately hampers its potential.
In the end, the film materializes as yet another composite creation, drawing from borrowed elements. While its intentions are commendable, it’s the other components that feel slightly at odds.
“Heart of Stone” is scheduled to debut on Netflix on August 11 and carries a PG-13 rating.