Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green , based on child development research. How do we rate?
Adventure blends romance, high-octane action; language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Ghosted
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 4 parent reviews
What's the Story?
When handsome farmer Cole (Chris Evans) meets mysterious art curator Sadie (Ana de Armas), at the start of GHOSTED, sparks fly. Their mutual attraction gives way to arguments, then back to desire, as their first date evolves from coffee to a night spent wandering, talking, and eventually sleeping together. But the next day, Sadie doesn't respond to Cole's (many) texts. Wondering if she's ghosting him, Cole decides to make a "grand romantic gesture" and track her down in London. What he finds is not what he expects. Sadie is a spy, not a curator, and now the two are knee-deep in an international plot to traffic a weapon of mass destruction. Mastermind Leveque (Adrien Brody) thinks Cole has the code he needs to arm the weapon, and he's put a bounty on his head.
Is It Any Good?
The spirited chemistry between this film's two leads is what sells the package and keeps it interesting despite overly long and convoluted action sequences. For sure, the 25-minute opening act of a magical first date between Ghosted's main couple, Sadie and Cole, is endearing. Evans and de Armas meet cute as two very different types who can't deny their mutual attraction. Though the tonal shift to action might seem abrupt after this intro, the film proposes a twist by punctuating the action with a feisty back-and-forth and oft-referenced "sexual tension" between Evans' tenderhearted farmer and de Armas' cold spy.
There's novelty in these gender-swapped roles -- he's the clingy homebody, she's the loner action hero. Evans is a bit more believable in his role than wide-eyed de Armas is as a spy, until of course Cole starts taking out the bad guys with unexplained ease. Reports had Scarlett Johansson originally co-starring, but de Armas brings her own unique combination of sexiness and vulnerability to the role. There are plenty of amusing dialogues and situations here (and a string of cameos, including Ryan Reynolds). If only the (four) writers had saved more time for talk and less for the Bond-èsque villains (Brody with a French accent) and protracted fight-and-chase sequences.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the main relationship in the movie. What do Sadie and Cole learn from each other about navigating a relationship in a healthy way?
Are the characters of Sadie and Cole believable? Why or why not? Do you think Evans and de Armas are right for their roles? If not, who would you cast?
How does this film incorporate humor into even the potentially most alarming action sequences? Does that make scenes of torture and life-or-death fights and chases less scary? What other movies have you watched that do this successfully?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: April 21, 2023
- Cast: Chris Evans , Ana de Armas , Adrien Brody
- Director: Dexter Fletcher
- Inclusion Information: Latino actors
- Studio: Apple TV+
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts , Adventures
- Run time: 117 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: sequences of strong violence/action, brief strong language and some sexual content
- Last updated: August 16, 2024
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