Gal Gadot’s new film, Heart of Stone, drew savage criticism from critics, who dubbed the action thriller “a poor woman’s mission impossible” and a “cheerless rip-off from Minority Report.”
In the Netflix film, the 38-year-old Wonder Woman actress plays international spy Rachel Stone, hired by a mysterious peace organization called The Charter.
Tasked with preventing a mysterious weapon known only as The Heart from falling into the wrong hands, she stars alongside the likes of Jamie Dornan and Sophie Okonedo.
However, the film’s striking resemblance to “Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One” as well as its “ridiculous plot”, “boring acting” and excessive use of CGI were harshly criticized in early reviews.
CNN’s Brian Lowry dubbed the film a “mission impossible for poor women,” and wrote, “Despite solid action moments spread out over the two hours, this Netflix film plays like a harmless but lifeless add-on to You Might Like This.” ‘ feature, which unfortunately you probably don’t like.
Oh dear: Gal Gadot’s new film Heart of Stone has been slammed by critics, who have dubbed the action thriller “a poor woman’s mission impossible” and a “cheerless rip-off from Minority Report”.
Explosive: In the Netflix film, the 38-year-old Wonder Woman actress plays international spy Rachel Stone, who is hired by a mysterious peace organization called The Charter
“Granted, no one has a monopoly on this type of thriller, and Gadot is a formidable protagonist even if she’s a mere mortal who can’t dodge bullets.”
“However, Heart of Stone’s structure doesn’t help, as it starts in the middle and offers little backstory that sets Stone apart from a range of other cinematic spies.”
Variety critic Owen Gleiberman called Heart of Stone “cheerless, muddled and dirty-looking — in short, abysmal” when he slammed the film for its “hollow” plot.
He wrote, “It feels like a virtual menace orchestrated by a virtual screenwriter.” Gal Gadot is bold, but there’s a somewhat depressing seriousness about it that doesn’t harmonize with the reflective cheerfulness of the dialogues
“What makes Heart of Stone such an unnerving experience isn’t that it’s incompetent, it’s that nothing about it matters.” It’s all bombast and noise, all hollow logistics, all virtual minority reporting screens, and clattering anger shutting nothing has meant. In other words, it’s time to start planning the sequel.”
New York Times critic Calum Marsh branded the film “ridiculous and outlandish” for its “unlikely” plot and criticized the subpar CGI.
He wrote, “While the computer shenanigans look silly, they’re more interesting than the film’s usual spy thrills.”
“A motorcycle chase strikingly like the exquisite one in Rogue Nation looks flat and dull in comparison, with dull staging and a cheesy gag; However, his mimic Fallout HALO jump is a shameless plagiarism made all the more offensive for looking so ridiculously fake.’
Icon: However, the film’s striking resemblance to “Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One” (pictured), as well as its “ridiculous storyline”, “boring acting” and excessive use of CGI drew harsh criticism from early reviews
Roger Ebert’s critic, Marya E. Gates, gave the film a meager star while branding Gadot’s performance as “boring,” Sophie Okonedos as “lifeless,” and the film as a “shallow, artless copy” of Minority Report.
Roger Ebert’s critic, Marya E. Gates, gave the film a meager star while branding Gadot’s performance as “boring,” Sophie Okonedos as “lifeless,” and the film as a “shallow, artless copy” of Minority Report.
She said, “It’s an overly calibrated collection of better movies that have absolutely no idea of their own, are populated by stock characters, and brought to life through unimaginative filmmaking.”
“The lackluster filmmaking doesn’t benefit Gadot, who can kick and punch quite well but can’t express his feelings beyond a boring facial expression.” This might be less of a problem if their fight sequences were filmed in a way that emphasized their physical abilities.
“I guess it’s about time we got a soulless movie whose sole raison d’être is to launch a new female-led franchise that also sort of functions as government surveillance propaganda.”
Empire critic Laura Venning gave the film a meager two stars out of five, bemoaning its lack of “originality or flair”.
She wrote: “When the action is based (literally) on fistfights, it’s gripping, but it’s difficult to be drawn into what is obviously a computer-generated skydive. Especially when we get used to Tom Cruise risking life and limb.”
“The real problem here is the lack of really compelling characters, especially the main actors. Gadot’s role is written too dull to capture anything of substance. Despite her best efforts, Rachel Stone is about as generic as the name might suggest.
Variety critic Owen Gleiberman called Heart of Stone “cheerless, muddled and dirty-looking — in short, abysmal” when he slammed the film for its “hollow” plot
Film: Empire critic Laura Venning gave the film a meager two stars out of five, bemoaning its lack of “originality or flair”.
Praise: Collider wrote, “With Gadot displaying such star power in Heart of Stone, her performance is most successfully surpassed by Dornan as Parker.”
“Even the attempts at humor are tenuous at best, with the film’s only good gag over a landline being the only one that really gets a laugh.” As with the rest of the film, this is a fairly short selection.”
Indiewire’s Kate Erbland wrote, “The film’s action sequences are characterized by jittery, incoherent lenses — we beg you, someone holds a camera steady for even 30 seconds — and slightly more readable melee scenes that lean on incessant bone-crunching sound effects, to make it clear that what we see (or, more accurately, don’t see) is in fact brutal and badass.
“The movie is obviously gearing up for a sequel or two, another franchise for the algorithm to chew up, more artificial entertainment to consume, another canvas to watch.” Can we do something next time become more human, we ask humbly?
However, Collider critic Tania Hussain praised the film and Gadot’s performance, writing: “Once the audience understands what the heart is and the power it wields, Heart of Stone could look like a copy of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, but it manages to stand out.” Thanks to Gadot, it has developed its own identity and charm. The Wonder Woman star manages to bring a touch of heart and grace to the clichéd spy thrillers traditionally male-dominated.
“With Gadot displaying so much star power in Heart of Stone, her performance is best surpassed by Dornan as Parker, the leader of the MI6 team. While Parker seems unappreciative of Rachel’s unpreparedness as the team’s tech support, she quickly earns his respect.
“It creates an enchanting chemistry and tension between the two that makes us curious about their dynamic.”
Hollywood Reporter critic David Rooney also highlighted Gadot’s action star abilities, writing, “As a woman of Ethan Hunt stuff, Gadot is on top form, kicking ass with elegant athleticism while remaining within the bounds of a normal person.” “Vulnerability.
“Rachel’s bond with her MI6 buddies provides some emotional structure, as does her eventual big sister vibe with Keya, although it’s refreshing that this is a female-focused action film that doesn’t require the protagonist to have a love interest .”
Directed by Tom Harper (The Aeronauts) from a screenplay by Greg Rucka (The Old Guard) and Allison Schroeder (Hidden Figures), Heart of Stone also stars Archie Madekwe and Jing Lusi.
This comes after it was revealed that Wonder Woman 3 would be deadlocked in the rebooted DC Universe – although Star Gadot claimed the project had been given the green light by studio heads James Gunn and Peter Safran.
Wonder Woman 3 development was first revealed to the public in 2019, and although the film was greenlit in 2020, director Patty Jenkins was eventually removed from the project after Gunn and Safran restructured the DC Extended Universe.
Now, Variety sources report that Wonder Woman 3 “is not in development at DC Studios, nor do Gunn and Safran have any current plans for a Wonder Woman project in the new DC Universe other than their previously announced Paradise Lost prequel series for Max.”
This comes despite a recent interview with Flaunt Magazine in which Gadot insisted that Gunn and Safran planned to proceed with the third Wonder Woman film.
Disappointing: This came after it was revealed that Wonder Woman 3 would not be moving forward in the rebooted DC Universe – although Star Gadot claimed the project was greenlit by studio heads James Gunn and Peter Safran (as seen in Wonder Woman 1984 from 2020).
She said: “I was invited to meet James Gunn and Peter Safran and what they told me and I quote: ‘You are in the best of hands. We will develop Wonder Woman 3 with you.” [We] I love you as Wonder Woman – you don’t have to worry. “Time will show.”
Earlier this month, Gadot told ComicBook.com, ‘I love Wonder Woman.’ It’s so close and dear to me.’
“From what I’ve heard from James and Peter, we’re going to develop Wonder Woman 3 together.”
has reached out to Gal Gadot representatives for comment.
In December, it was reported that Wonder Woman 3 was canceled after director Jenkins – who directed the first two female-directed superhero films – declined studio notes about her treatment for the sequel, which The Wrap said led to her leaving the project .