With Simon Kinberg’s The 355, we are treated to something you don’t see a lot of in the Action genre, a team of spies who are women. It’s a brilliant idea, using a predominately male-oriented genre and flipping it on its head by having your main protagonists as the complete opposite demographic. It could have been used to make light of or comment on the machismo and male allure to this type of film. Sadly, it doesn’t.

The 355 feels as bland and generic as a Direct-To-Video action-thriller starring 80’s and 90’s Action stars taking the assignment to either pay the IRS or pay their rent. There is a difference between a working actor and an actor who is consistently working. The one actor who definitely knew what he was doing and took the money and ran but must have given the demand of being uncredited is Jason Flemyng. At first, this reviewer started thinking he was losing his marbles as he is not listed on IMDB or his Wikipedia page as being in this movie and he is the main villain of the film. That should give you an inkling of how throwaway and forgettable this film is.

While Diane Kruger and Lupita Nyong’o seem to make the most effort out of the anemic script and paint-by-numbers espionage film, the chemistry between the International supergroup is ultimately what truly breaks the team apart. The actresses at times feel like they just want to get their check and go. It also doesn’t help matters that Kinberg is not a great director. It is only accentuated by the actual action sequences. While there may be some decent fight choreography, you would never know with Kinberg deciding to go with the shaky-cam and tightly framed fight sequences. One of the first chases is visually headache-inducing as it just doesn’t flow nor does it include any thrills.

At slightly over two hours long, The 355 is a chore to get through and, even if you power through it, you will forget all about your uphill battle a few days later.