Today’s quick review: The Saint. Simon Templar (Val Kilmer), an international thief and master of disguise, takes a job from Ivan Tretiak (Rade Serbedzija), a zealous Russian politician, to steal the secret of cold fusion from Dr. Emma Russell (Elisabeth Shue), a beautiful scientist on the verge of perfecting the mythical energy technology. But when Simon falls for Emma, he goes to great lengths to protect her and her research from Tretiak.
The Saint is a spy romance based on the classic TV series. The Saint draws from the spy genre in its technology-oriented plot, its politically powerful villain, and Simon’s globe-trotting lifestyle. But unlike most spy movies, The Saint has romance at its core. There is some action, but little in the way of major stunts or violence. The movie spends almost as much time developing its two romantic leads as it does on the main plot.
The Saint’s best qualities are its acting and the romance that stems from it. Val Kilmer makes for a charming but troubled Simon Templar: his criminal profession and his many disguises can’t quite hide the altruistic man underneath. Elisabeth Shue plays a shy, bright, and sweet Emma Russell, a woman who slips past Simon’s defenses without ever meaning to. Their romance develops naturally and has a central place in the story.
As a spy movie, The Saint is decent but far from great. Emma’s cold fusion equations make for a better plot device than the usual doomsday machines. Simon’s disguises are always interesting, and his bag of tricks is deep without being implausible. But the movie only has a little genuine action, even near its finale, and the plot does not aim very high. The Saint has enough quality to entertain, but not enough to impress.
Give The Saint a shot if you are looking for a lighter, more romantic take on the spy genre. The movie’s likable characters and reasonable plot make it a pleasant watch for anyone who appreciates a love story with their action. Skip it if you are looking for an exciting action thriller or a deep romantic drama. For an adventure romance with similar appeal, check out Romancing the Stone.
6.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for a sweet romance and a decent plot.