I currently count seven characters chasing the bomb in this review so far. That number will figuratively blow-up more when you include other professional partners, various henchmen, and a few easily disposed-of gang-members. The numerous characters make it hard to keep track of all the twists and turns, nor care about them much.
What Boris and the Bomb is, it’s a light-hearted spy thriller, with some good action involving guns, fists, car chases, and bomb deactivation. It also finds itself firmly planted in the good, not great, category within its multiple genres. I’ve seen plenty of spy-thrillers that stick with me and I have to see it over and over again. Boris and the Bomb as a thriller are good but not great. I’ve seen plenty of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan films and Boris and the Bomb as an action film is good, but not great. I’ve seen my fair share of hockie and awful comedies. Boris and the Bomb is not a great comedy, but it’s certainly not a bad one.
“…makes Boris a likable character worth following on his journey.”
The point I want to make is Boris and the Bomb is good, not great. It’s good for an evening of light fun. Its real sin is that it didn’t try to go for something spectacular or find a way to distinguish it from the pack. Maybe cut down on many of its characters and focus on a plot or two. Personally, I would have focused on Boris’ mission along with the spy couple Maya and Rafael. There’s a family element that has legs and can be a significant focus of the main story along with the twists and turns in that relationship.
I’m also not sure, I would have gone with the overly light comedic tone throughout the film. Most jokes were mildly amusing and fortunately did not overwhelm the movie by making it a groaner-fest. The overall nuclear bomb plot may be too high stakes for this comedy. Knowing that Boris had a nuclear bomb, everyone around him didn’t seem to be all that concerned.
In the end, I liked Boris and the Bomb. J. Anthony McCarthy is a good actor and makes Boris a likable character worth following on his journey. You do root for him as he is this not-so-typical spy. Clearly, he doesn’t eat or work out like one. You will get overwhelmed by a large number of supporting and disposable characters. But David Kronmiller and Jennifer Emily McLean’s script will grab your attention through its feature-length runtime.
"…that number will figuratively blow-up more when you include others..."
