Today, Paramount is releasing Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit on Blu-ray & DVD, after opening in theatres on January 17th.  After injuring his back overseas, young soldier Jack Ryan (Chris Pine) is recruited by government agent Thomas Harper (Kevin Costner) to become an analyst for the CIA.

But when he discovers a plot by Russian businessman Viktor Cherevin (Kenneth Branagh) to completely crash the United States economy with a terrorist attack, he is sent for field work in Moscow, with his girlfriend (Keira Knightley) increasingly suspicious of his double life.

Directed by Kenneth Branagh, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit is a reboot of the four earlier films featuring the late Tom Clancy’s iconic character.  Although this one is slow moving in terms of buildup, the film picks up quite a bit when the plot gets going, delivering some fun action scenes in the last act.  With likeable performances from Chris Pine, Kevin Costner and Keira Knightley, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit is a slight but mildly entertaining espionage thriller.

The Blu-ray includes commentary with Kenneth Branagh and producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura, deleted and extended scenes, as well as several featurettes.

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit is 105 minutes and rated PG.

-John Corrado