For fans of global agent action heroes like James Bond, Jason Bourne, or Ethan Hunt who have longed for a female version, this film is for you.
Netflix, which described Heart of Stone even pre-release as an "upcoming blockbuster," clearly has a franchise in mind. That'll be just fine for Gadot's many followers, who might have been disappointed by Netflix's previous Gadot action vehicle Red Notice.
Mention of Rachel Stone's troubled childhood could offer avenues for character development in sequels. There are enough other interesting characters in her orbit to create a storyline viewers might be excited to drop back into, especially hacker Keya (Bollywood star Bhatt, in her first English-language role) and fellow spies Nomad (the U.K.'s Okonedo) and Jack of Hearts (Germany's Schweighöfer).
The film's international cast is a big part of its appeal and neatly fits with the storyline's idea of a non-nation-based spy outfit. If planned sequels also repeat the globe-trotting action of this original, even better. It's always fun to glimpse real cities subjected to false action -- here, for example, buildings explode in Reykjavik and cars spin out around Lisbon's famous trams.
Gadot, as always, commands the screen. She's as believable as any of her male counterparts in this film's impressive action sequences, which send the actress sailing over cliffs, hurtling down hills, jumping out of planes, speeding through cities, kicking bad guys' butts, and generally saving the day in a myriad of ways.
Do you have to completely suspend belief to enjoy this film? Of course, but isn't that half the fun?
Read the full review at Common Sense Media.
Images courtesy of Netflix.