Summary
Ghosted is a 2023 American action-romantic comedy movie that twists modern dating into an outlandish action-adventure. With Chris Evans and Ana de Armas headlining, the film is directed by the equally energetic storyteller Dexter Fletcher. The audiences are bound to have a wonderful time with spellbinding romance, stupendous action scenes, and a quirky take on spy fiction.
The plot centers around the life of a simple farmer residing in rural Virginia, played by Chris Evans. Cole Riggan is the character, and he embodies the kind of human that is heartwarming, a bit out of his time, and soft around the edges, clinging dearly to the family farm. He is also romantically challenged — his family means well, but their constant attempts to set him up don’t make things any better.
When destiny happens to intervene as Cole is attending a farmer’s market, he meets Sadie Rhodes, played by the talented Ana de Armas. Sadie is an intellectually captivating woman who possesses a level of confidence rarely found and leaves a mystery to be revealed. No matter their differences, it is clear to the audience that Cole and Sadie share an undeniable first date full of exploration. Interactions full of flirtation take a turn towards the romance as the pair spend a single perfect day exploring the city, engaging in discussions about life and truly connecting with one another.
Cole finds himself head over heels after what seems like a whirlwind romantic encounter. But his happiness gets cut short as Sadie goes off the grid and stops responding to his messages and calls. In an attempt to poke fun, his family teases him for being “ghosted,” a recent slang term depicts the act of ceasing all communication without notifying the other party. In Cole’s mind, he is unsatisfied with the resolution and convinced that his stalker-esque tracker is pointing him in the right direction. He is impulsively driven to track the woman he believes to have a deeper connection alive in London, using data from the tracking tag tied to his phone in a comedic twist to proves my point.
What starts off as a romantic endeavor quickly transforms into an international whirlwind. Upon Cole getting to London, he is captured by a dangerous group of arms dealers who mistakenly identify him as a covert agent referred to as “The Taxman.” In an unexpected turn of events, Sadie turns out to be nowhere near the ordinary woman he thought of — rather, she is an undercover CIA agent on a covert plan to retrieve a highly dangerous biochemical weapon.
From this point forward, the tone of Ghosted becomes that of action comedy. Cole is complete out of his element and finds himself in a perilous situation filled with espionage, shootouts, chasing cars, and global politics. Although lacking the requisite training, Cole’s unyielding determination, and often misguided optimism, turns out to be beneficial. Hesitantly, Sadie agrees to escort him on her mission to capture the notorious arms dealer Leveque, portrayed by Adrien Brody, who intends to unleash havoc using the stolen bioweapon.
The film balances nail biting action and romance perfectly. While traversing exotic locations, Cole and Sadie battle mercenaries and assassins. With time, their unusual reunion transforms into something deeper. An understanding of each other’s worlds. Sadie learns to let her walls down and trust because of love, and Cole shows how even an ordinary person can rise to extraordinary circumstances with the right motivation.
Amidst all the chaos, and the romance, where the film smartly injects tension, their relationship blossoms. The chemistry between Sade and Cole allow the audience to stay hooked throughout the length of the film. From gun fights to acclaimed tender moments while escaping danger, the duo truly dominate through their romance.
The action-packed climax of Ghosted occurs at a revolving restaurant located on the top of a skyscraper. There, leveraging global catastrophe, Sadie and Cole try to out maneuver Leveque and his henchmen. The finale unravels with comedic witty dialogue, action packed choreography, and oh so satisfying romantic closure. The film does a fantastic job blending the three genres together.
Ultimately, Cole and Sadie not only survive, but learn to coexist together, having fused the chasms created by their different lives. The film’s final scene retains its optimistic feel, suggests new opportunities, and illustrates with the fact that while love can be rather whimsical, it remains one of the greatest adventures in life.
Cast & Crew
Ghosted is aided significantly by its experienced cast and crew who provide warmth and energy to the project.
Chris Evans as Cole Riggan: From Captain America to Ghosted, Evans appears to make the most out of his romantic leading man roles. He demonstrates his comedic timing as well and brings depth to the character Cole, who evolves from a reluctant hero into a figure audiences warm towards.
Ana de Armas as Sadie Rhodes: De Armas switched from one genre to another seamlessly as the stern-as-nails CIA agent. After working with Evans in Knives Out and The Gray Man, their chemistry on screen translates wonderfully to the audience. She moves from an action hero role to that of a romantic lead with grace which marks her versatility yet again.
Adrien Brody as Leveque: Playing the ruthless arms dealer is the main antagonist of the film. Brody adds flair to the eloquent character. The villain is often rather comical, and because of Brody’s serious performance the film retains its gravitas, making the character unforgettable.
Supporting Cast: The film also has remarkable appearances from Sedaris, Donovan, and Broadway as Cole’s caring, yet comical relatives, and they serve as a foundation for the emotional tone of the film. Also, small but funny parts by Reynolds and Stan further enhances the fun nature of the film.
Director:
With Rocketman and Eddie the Eagle under his belt, Dexter Fletcher is known to bring youthful exuberance and laughter to his films. He maintains a brisk pace to the film while making sure its action sequences are engaging without taking away from the romance and comedy.
Screenplay:
The witty, high-paced script filled with action, witty exchanges, and humor is brought to us by the equally famous Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, famously known for Deadpool and Zombieland. The writing balances the clichés that come with spy-movies while adding unique charm and character dynamics.
Cinematography & Production Design:
The cozy Virginia landscapes and glamorous Europe settings are captured in quite a sleek style, and the romance scenes benefit from warm inviting visuals. Action scenes are choreographed in a way that the impact is maximum from the viewer’s standpoint.
IMDb Ratings
Ghosted has an IMDb rating of about 5.8/10 which indicates the mixed reactions it received. Viewers appreciated the film’s fun, breezy entertainment value and the electric chemistry between Evans and De Armas. Critics, on the other hand, seemed more split. Some thought the film relied too much on its repeating tropes, while others enjoyed the clever humor and popcorn movie charm.
Typically, most viewers who enjoy quick, easy-to-watch action comedies with dynamic leads found Ghosted to be an entertaining experience, if not a groundbreaking one. The light tone, sharp action scenes, and romantic tension between the leads made it a go-to for genre fans, even if it didn’t win over every critic.
In summary, Ghosted is a fun, action-filled rom-com that is everything it aims to be and does not ask to be taken seriously. With the fantastic chemistry of its leads supplemented by spirited direction and sharp writing, it aids audiences with some cinematic relief. If it’s for the over-the-top action, sweet love story, or just for a few good laughs, Ghosted is a ride worth taking.
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