"The Amateur" is an enjoyable spy thriller for adults.

Oscar winner Rami Malek teams up with Academy Award nominee Laurence Fishburne in the revenge espionage thriller The Amateur from 20th Century Studios. James Hawes directs the film from a screenplay by Ken Nolan and Gary Spinelli, which is based on the same-titled novel by Robert Littell.

Charlie Heller (Rami Malek) is a brilliant but profoundly introverted decoder for the CIA, working out of a basement office at headquarters in Langley. His life is turned upside down when his wife, Sarah (Rachel Brosnahan), is killed in a terrorist attack in London. When his supervisors, led by Director Moore (Holt McCallany), refuse to take action, he decides to take matters into his own hands.

After receiving some training from grizzly retired colonel Henderson (Fishburne), Heller embarks on a dangerous journey across the globe to track down those responsible for Sarah's death. His intelligence becomes the ultimate tool for evading his pursuers and seeking revenge.

Though Heller seems like an unremarkable man with no formal field training, he is thrust into a world of covert operations, international crime, and moral dilemmas as he searches for justice for Sarah's murder. What starts as a quest for vengeance soon evolves into something more profound: a journey through grief and the breakdown of his world.

Although Rami Malek recently played the antagonist in the twenty-fifth James Bond film, he has always avoided the alpha male archetype in his performances. Fortunately, the script doesn't try to mold his character, Charlie, into a typical action hero like John Wick; instead, it highlights his unique strengths and capabilities wisely.

In retrospect, Charlie is a nuanced variation of Elliot Alderson, Malek's iconic character from Mr. Robot. I couldn't help but smile during the scenes showcasing Charlie's exceptional skills with technology, where he deftly manipulates computers and cleverly outsmarts his captors. As always, Malek immerses himself fully in the role, bringing his character a palpable authenticity and depth.

From the supporting cast, Laurence Fishburne stands out and has one of the few scenes in the film involving fisticuffs. While 63 years young, Fishburne still looks fluid in his fight scenes. Similarly, Holt McCallany does what one would expect from this character trope. Seeing Julianne Nicholson in another political thriller fresh off the hit series Paradise was also refreshing.

If I had one gripe about the film, it's Jon Bernthal as Jackson O'Brien, a.k.a. The Bear, who we think will have a huge role but amounts to an extended cameo, which screams, "I'm only here for a check." Nevertheless, while it's light on traditional action, "The Amateur" offers enough thrills for adult moviegoers looking for a different type of revenge thriller.

Final Grade: B

"The Amateur" opens in theaters on Thursday, April 10th.