Our Kind of Traitor

         Based on the novel by John le Carre, this is a more of a cerebral spy thriller than an action piece.  It offers a picturesque tour of Europe and a decent amount of suspense. It is a serviceable adult drama sandwiched in between aliens, animated fish and low brow comedies.

            The film has a pedigree cast. It stars Ewan McGregor and Naomie Harris as a British couple on vacation in Morocco dealing with some marital issues. They soon find themselves entangled with a Russian mobster played by a scenery chewing Stellen Skarsgard. Once the plot thickens, they seek out the help of British intelligence in the form of a buttoned up Damian Lewis. 

             It's an intriguing plot and holds your attention but it all balances on the unlikely idea that a college professor and his lawyer wife can easily morph into "spy like" behavior to help someone they barely know. If you buy into the concept, you will become much more invested in the characters and care more about the eventual outcome.