Snake Eyes

While playing with your G.I. Joe action figures as a child, it’s highly unlikely you dreamed up an origin story as elaborate as Snake Eyes, which unmasks and unmutes the enigmatic commando — which is odd given that his mystery is tied to his allure.

An awkward blend of ninja mythology with urban crime thriller, this globetrotting spinoff from the two-film G.I. Joe franchise features some lackluster fight sequences while overall taking itself way too seriously.

It emerges as a slick yet conventional action saga that lacks the necessary character depth and emotional complexity to succeed as a dark and brooding examination of a lost soul on a vigilante quest for revenge.

To its benefit, the story is only loosely connected to the prior films, although some familiar faces return. After witnessing his father’s murder at a young age, our hero (Henry Golding) becomes a vagabond, first as an underground fighter then as a yakuza henchman.

Eventually he’s recruited by Tommy (Andrew Koji) to train as a warrior in a Japanese ninja clan known as the Arashikage. Seeking a sense of loyalty and belonging, he’s skeptical at every turn, unsure who he can trust or even if he’s worthy of being trusted himself.

As past secrets are revealed, Snake Eyes takes an assignment that forces him to carefully choose his allegiance between G.I. Joe agent Scarlett (Samara Weaving) and Baroness (Ursula Corbero), an operative for terrorist syndicate Cobra.

Like its predecessors, Snake Eyes is more spectacle than substance, which might be enough to satisfy fans of the maligned series that hasn’t seen a new installment in almost a decade. As directed by Robert Schwentke (Red), the murky set pieces mostly squander the creative fight choreography, swordplay, parkour, motorcycle stunt work, and martial arts.

The convoluted screenplay tries multiple narrative pathways, including elements of espionage and high-stakes international intrigue, while funneling toward an obligatory — if impressively staged — final showdown. The film otherwise lacks the conviction to follow through on its more high-minded ambitions.

Meanwhile, the versatile Golding (Crazy Rich Asians) withstands the physical rigors of the role while showcasing the vulnerability of an outsider on a journey of self-discovery. His character’s big-screen future is secure, but for moviegoers, it’s probably not worth rolling the dice.

Rated PG-13, 121 minutes.