Deep Cover Review (Tribeca Film Festival 2025)

By Justin D Williams

Directed by Tom Kinglsey| Starring Bryce Dallas Howard, Orlando Bloom, Nick Mohammed & Sean Bean.

“Deep Cover” (2025) is a hilarious, clever action-comedy marked by great performances, an original story, and rock-solid direction. Tom Kingsley helms “Deep Cover”, which marries improv comedy with crime caper in an original and fun manner. With a strong cast headed by Bryce Dallas Howard, Orlando Bloom, and Nick Mohammed, “Deep Cover” delivers laughs and tension.

The three improv actors are recruited by an undercover police officer, played by Sean Bean, to assist in going undercover and infiltrating London's underworld. Rather than using conventional training, the actors are encouraged to use their improv training to stay undercover and gain intelligence. This is better than a joke concept, as it creates actual tension when the actors repeatedly have to improvise their way out of tight situations.

Perhaps the strongest thing about “Deep Cover” is the acting. Bryce Dallas Howard is particularly good as Kat, the most natural of the three. She has a natural charm to her and does the comedy and the drama well. Orlando Bloom is the show-stealing funny as Marlon, who is so serious about his acting, providing awkward and somewhat lovable moments. But the best acting comes from Nick Mohammed as Hugh. His fussy, introverted personality supplies most of the film's humor and some of its biggest surprises, and his sense of timing is impeccable. The three leads all have great chemistry and sell the farcical circumstances.

The movie, as crazy as it is, is perfectly timed and always entertaining. It blends the elements of classic undercover films with modern humor. The spontaneous nature of the film makes every scene thrilling and unexpected, and the suspense builds up because the actors become more immersed with the wrong people. There is a balanced blend of laughs and tension, and while the plot becomes somewhat crazy towards the end, it never falters.

Tom Kingsley's direction keeps it all slim and chic. He lends the film a stylish look as well as allows the actors to have fun acting their part. The action sequences are well-handled but never quite so intense, still maintaining a sense of lightness. Kingsley uses music and editing wisely to bring out the comedy points of the movie too. The actors look like they have enjoyed themselves, and that gets transferred to the rest of the film too.

All in all, “Deep Cover” is a good-natured and intelligent film that works due to its unique setup, excellent acting, and coherent direction. It won't be the most intelligent film of the year, but it doesn't have to be. It knows what it's doing and delivers precisely what it promises—a sidesplitting ride with laughs, action, and improv bedlam. For comedy and intelligent crime fans, “Deep Cover” is worth watching.

Final Rating