Errands & Espionage

Tschida (Siri, Who Am I?) fails to deliver on a promising premise in this lopsided action-adventure rom-com. Following a divorce, stay-at-home mom Gabby Green doesn’t know what to do with herself or how she’ll keep her family afloat. With an incomplete English degree and a 14-year gap on her résumé, she seriously considers multilevel marketing. Then Gabby is approached by the CIA, who inform her that she bears a strong resemblance to the recently murdered agent Darcy Dagger—and want her to play the part of Darcy in an ongoing investigation. It’s dangerous, but it comes with a very convincing salary. After a makeover, Gabby is tossed into the world of the Russian mafia, money laundering, and violence—all while still balancing her children’s schedules and household maintenance. Assisting her is Darcy’s partner, Markus Parks, whom Gabby approaches with a mix of suspicion and serious attraction. Tschida succeeds in mining this setup for comedic effect, playing up Gabby’s clumsiness and inexperience in scenes that may cause either laughter or second-hand embarrassment. Unfortunately, the mission never feels truly thrilling and the romance takes a backseat to what little action there is. This disappoints. Agent: David Purse, Inked Entertainment. (Aug.)