Today’s quick review: Company Business. Ex-CIA agent Sam Boyd (Gene Hackman) comes out of retirement to handle an off-the-books prisoner exchange between the CIA and the KGB. He takes Pyotr Grushenko (Mikhail Baryshnikov), a captured Russian mole, to Berlin to make the trade for an American agent, but the deal falls apart when the agent turns out to be an impostor. Now wanted by the CIA and KGB, Boyd and Grushenko must trust each other to survive.
Company Business is a spy thriller about a pair of enemy spies who are forced to work together after their agencies betray them. In spite of their different backgrounds, Boyd and Grushenko are cut from the same cloth. They are easygoing men who want no part in their agencies’ grand schemes. Their easy friendship is enough to make Company Business a pleasant watch, while a by-the-numbers thriller plot gives it some modest excitement.
But although it gets the basics right, Company Business does not have much character of its own. Boyd and Grushenko are blandly likable, with no strong character traits or internal conflicts. The plot moves forward at a good pace, but it doesn’t pack any meaningful surprises, and the movie ends abruptly before it can wrap up all of its threads. The movie also has some enjoyable bits of comedy, but they never get the chance to shine.
Give Company Business a shot if you’re in the mood for a thriller that’s light and easy to follow. Two affable leads and a serviceable plot are enough to make the movie a fine pick for an accommodating viewer, but it does not take any real risks or leave a lasting impression. More exacting viewers will find that Company Business does not have anything to set it apart from the crowd.
For a spy thriller with higher stakes and a darker tone, try The Fourth Protocol or Spy Game. For one with a similar premise but more action, try Safe House. For an action comedy with more flair that’s about a pair of spies from rival organizations, try Mr. and Mrs. Smith. For a more dynamic action movie about a pair of enemy spies forced to work together, try The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
5.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for a decent story with some missed opportunities.