No Time to Die

As part of a franchise so beholden to tradition, No Time to Die could be praised for the audacity to shake (not stir) things up if such efforts didn’t feel so insincere.

This latest chapter in cinema’s most enduring and beloved espionage series, which also is the swan song for Daniel Craig after five turns as British secret agent James Bond, merely hints at reinventing the character and mythology without fully committing to it.

Under the direction of American filmmaker Cary Joji Fukunaga (Beasts of No Nation), the Bond films — now 25 and counting — continue to raise the bar in terms of visual extravagance, even if this installment lacks the substance to match the spectacle.

Easing into the obligatory elaborate opening set piece — in this case, a harrowing chase involving thugs through narrow streets and stairwells in a quaint Italian village — the film generally dials back the action in favor of enhanced emotional depth and complexity, bolstered by Craig’s debonair charm.

After the titular Billie Eilish ballad, the film proceeds to check off all the franchise staples, including the catchphrases, music cues, exotic locales, near-death escapes, alluring women, cool cars, high-tech gadgets, and recurring characters.

His latest globetrotting saga of international intrigue finds Bond navigating the usual maze of deceit and betrayal, even among his own ranks, with the personal stakes higher than ever.

Lured off the beach and out of retirement by an old CIA colleague (Jeffrey Wright) for a low-level investigation, he becomes ensnared in the latest villainy from Spectre. Meanwhile, MI6 has moved on without him, including a dismissive M (Ralph Fiennes), who already has given a young agent named Nomi (Lashana Lynch) his old 007 moniker.

Still, it becomes apparent that Bond’s expertise is vital as ever, particularly when confronting old nemesis Blofeld (Christoph Waltz) in prison, or tracking down the vengeful Safin (Rami Malek), an expert in bioweaponry whose terrorist plot ties into Bond’s ongoing relationship with scientist Madeleine (Lea Seydoux).

While piecing together clues, Bond is forced to confront his past and contemplate his future, such as whether the suave yet stubborn agent needs to evolve with the world around him.

The convoluted screenplay delivers a sturdy adventure with some suspenseful twists, witty banter, and modest thrills. However, it lacks a memorably fleshed out villain, despite Malek’s menacing portrayal.

As it builds toward an inevitable final showdown, No Time to Die becomes more content to go through the motions. If we’ve learned anything in the last six decades, it’s that when Bond is on the case, the outcome is never really in doubt.

Rated PG-13, 163 minutes.