In the Grey

Escapist fare about corrupt billionaires receiving their comeuppance would seem to carry a certain level of timely catharsis, although In the Grey dabbles more in fantasy than reality.

Beneath the slick and stylish surface, this globetrotting crime thriller from prolific director Guy Ritchie (Sherlock Holmes) is moderately intriguing and intermittently amusing, yet offers sketchy variations on unscrupulous rogues and shady scenarios we’ve seen plenty of times before.

The strategy involves ensnaring both the characters and the audience in a cat-and-mouse whirlwind of bribery, conspiracies, deception, betrayal, ego, greed, and dishonor among thieves — unspooled at a breakneck pace to deflect scrutiny of the logical gaps and narrative familiarity.

The story follows Rachel Wild (Eiza Gonzalez), a shadowy lawyer whose most successful deals net her a profit along with her clients. Her nonchalant cunning and confidence make her that much more intimidating.

In this case, Rachel manipulates a dubious high-profile investment banker (Rosamund Pike) into hiring her to retrieve a $1 billion debt defaulted by industrial baron Salazar (Carlos Bardem) who hides out on a small island off the Spanish coast.

Even after Rachel wins legal battles to seize his assets and restrict his options, Salazar remains reluctant to pay up. That’s why she travels with a team of covert operatives, led by the fiercely loyal Sid (Henry Cavill) and Bronco (Jake Gyllenhaal), to carry out the dirty work — from scoping out an evacuation route to securing transportation and surveillance equipment at a moment’s notice to outmaneuvering Salazar’s own private militia.

The film benefits from some alluring exotic scenery and intricately choreographed set pieces, along with its appealing cast that develops the requisite chemistry. A gender reversal on the typical mastermind is a nice touch, too.

However, there’s not much character depth or moral complexity in Ritchie’s convoluted screenplay, which struggles to escalate the underlying emotional stakes alongside the value of its brazen financial negotiations.

As its plot mechanics grind along, the film explains the twists and assembles the puzzle pieces for those who lack the patience or rooting interest to do so themselves.

Meanwhile, In the Grey bogs down in expository narration and visual gimmicks in an effort to prove its own cleverness. By the end, grey seems about right.

Rated R, 98 minutes.