Film Review - Spooks: The Greater Good

Released: 8th May 2015 (UK)                                 Verdict: Go and see it while it is still on!
Director: Bharat Nalluri                                             This review does not contain spoilers
Running Time: 104 mins
Rating: 15
Staring:
Peter Firth
Kit Harrington
Jennifer Ehle
Tim McInnerny

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I saw this film on Thursday morning (9.55 am, to be exact) and wanted to get my review out as quickly as possible to give people a chance to catch a late showing before it leaves cinemas. You can guess from this that I liked it. Actually, I LOVED it but then I was a huge fan of the television series and have always had a soft spot for Harry Pearce (Peter Firth). 

Although I do think that my attachment to the series enhanced my enjoyment of the film, I would be surprised if I hadn't liked it anyway. It is exactly my sort of thing: well-acted, suspenseful, fast-paced without being too convoluted or confusing and not too darn long or overtly slick.  I don't want to include too many details of the plot (I went in knowing nothing about it so was gripped from the start) but it shouldn't be spoiling anything to say that it revolves around MI5 Chief Intelligence Officer, Harry Pearce. As an 'elder spy', Harry usually calls the shots from back at base in central London but this film sees him thrust into the field as a known terrorist threatens not only the country which he loves but also the fabric of MI5 itself. But fear not, the old man still has a few tricks up his sleeve. 

Kit Harrington (Game of Thrones) as Will Holloway provides Harry with a young and semi-reluctant sidekick and does a good job, even if he does seem a bit on the nice side at times (although that may have been deliberate). I would like to see more of him on the big screen.

It is not the most twisty of plots and there isn't much character development but I didn't need those things to enjoy it. I wasn't in the mood for anything too heavy and this was perfect. No doubt some will think that it should have been a small screen affair but personally I liked the fact that it was still recognisable as Spooks and spending an hour and three quarters watching it in a cozy cinema with a bag of pick and mix was bliss. Another one please...