‘Atomic Blonde’ too smart for its own good

Aiming to possibly kickstart an estrogenic equivalent to a Bond or Bourne franchise, "Atomic Blonde" is, simultaneously, too smart for its own good and dumbed-down to its own detriment, leaving behind a compilation of expertly crafted action sequences in search of a movie.

In the story set on the eve of the Berlin Wall dismantling, a gaggle of global spies attempts to exploit the political chaos to gain access to a list containing some very important names. Caught in the crossfire are Russian agent Yuri (played by Jóhannes Jóhannesson), French agent Delphine (played by Sofia Boutella), a defected station agent named David Percival (played by James McAvoy) and MI-6 agent Lorraine Broughton (played by atomically blonde Charlize Theron).

The names and country origins of the various characters are almost obsolete as the film plays on, since it's almost impossible to decode just who is duping whom. Add to this that the film is told in flashbacks, where Lorraine is being interviewed during a London debriefing by an MI-6 head (played by Toby Jones) and a CIA chief (played by John Goodman), and things get even more convoluted.

Director David Leitch can demonstrate cinematic style almost as flashy as the neon-drenched scenery in this late-'80s-set action pic. But for all the flash and fashion, the film carries an overall muted, flat tone (despite a kicking '80s soundtrack). Jones and Goodman have little to do but look perplexed and frustrated as Theron inhales cigarette smoke and stares coldly back at them.

McAvoy, who earlier this year put on a bravura performance in "Split," is stuck in a role that seems so vaguely defined, the whole performance looks like an audition reel for the role of Tyler Durden in "Fight Club." Theron demonstrates far more magnetism here than in her dreadlocked role in "Fate of the Furious," but the overstuffed story elements always seem to get in the way of her commanding full focus on the screen. She's always the coolest spy in the room, but the rooms get awfully crowded at times.

The only time she does shine is during two incredibly crafted and staged fight sequences. Filled with long takes and camera shots that place the audience right next to the action, they are fairly stunning displays that demonstrate the stuntman roots of the director.

It's just a shame that the rest of the film does not ignite the screen the way these sequences do, or we might be looking at Theron's own version of "John Wick." Instead, we will only be left with a few neat action clips that will show her she's not letting her Oscar weigh her down.

"Atomic Blonde," however, does.