Val Kilmer absolutely owns the role of Simon Templar in this big-screen adaptation of the classic novels and 60s television show. And while the film isn’t as strong as it could have been, Kilmer is nicely on point, and shares some wonderful chemistry with his co-star, Elizabeth Shue.

Simon is a high-profile thief that can perfect any disguise and any accent. When he steals a chip from a Russian mob boss with political intentions, Tretiak (Rade Serbedzija) and his son, Ilya (Valeriy Nikolaev), the pair decide to use him to steal a cold fusion formula that would put him in place to be the next leader of a Russia, one he wants to restore to its old glory.

And the scientist who has the formula… Emma Russell (Shue) a romantic, naive genius that plans to give the gift of cold fusion to the world for free. Simon plans to romance her and then steal the formula, but rethinks everything when he finds himself connecting with her. It’s a familiar story beat, but the pair make it work.

Tretiak reveals that if Simon doesn’t steal the formula he’ll kill Emma.

So begins a chase across continents as Simon uses the names of Catholic saints as cover, something that Emma figures out pretty quickly, and once reunited, a plan comes together.

I like Noyce as a director, especially his Jack Ryan films, but there are a lot of silly things in this that just would have hamstringed the potential for any sequels – footage of Simon Templar on international television, the ease with which Simon can be found if you know any Catholic saints, or have access to the internet to look them up.

Some of the action sequences, and there are only a few in the film, it’s more of a spy thriller, needed to be a little tighter but there is something to the material. One wonders if this was the film Noyce and Kilmer wanted to make or if some studio interference prevented this from being something that could have been exceptional and launched a franchise.

Oh and that pocket knife that seems to do everything, that may have been a little much.

There’s a nice supporting cast, Alun Armstrong, Tommy Flanagan and Michael Byrne. Watch for a quick appearance by Emily Mortimer! And of course, a vocal appearance by the original Simon Templar, Sir Roger Moore.

I hadn’t watched this one since it’s original release on VHS. This time around it, I enjoyed it a lot more, but also saw all the lost potential for what this one could have been. I would have loved to have seen Kilmer reprise this role, and I would have loved to see this one have a stronger script. If this had been a real success… could you imagine a Saint/Mission: Impossible crossover? They were both Paramount properties and both have catchy themes.