Quickie Review:
A criminal organisation is on the verge of acquiring nuclear weapons. In the height of cold war a CIA agent Napoleon Solo (Henry Cavill) and KGB operative Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer) put aside their differences for a joint mission. This uneasy alliance must succeed to ensure world stability. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is a surprisingly fun homage to the earlier Bond type films. The team-up of two rivals for a common mission also added a new twist to an otherwise predictable story. The stylised approach to the film is part of the charm and the great chemistry among the cast brought moments of amusing tongue-in-cheek humour.
Full Review:
I am not familiar with the original show, it was way before my generation. However, with the dark tones of many blockbusters nowadays, it's refreshing to return to a lighter and more vibrant movie in the spy-genre. On top of that with Guy Ritchie directing, known for his witty dialogue and often odd humour, I had to check out his latest effort.
The style of the movie is what will immediately grab the attention of the audience. Although it may be a little over-romanticised, Guy Ritchie beautifully captures the glamour of the 60s. From the locales, cars, outfits, even the music are all aesthetically rich and beautiful. Still this movie is not all style, the three major characters are perfectly cast leading to an entertaining chemistry among them. Henry Cavill plays the more suave gentleman using his charisma to get what he wants. Whereas Armie Hammer's character is a more rugged man, and you really don't want to be on his bad side. These differences between the two complement well with each other and that's why half the fun of the movie is just watching them interact. The third major character is played by Alicia Vikander, a resourceful woman who should not be underestimated. And thank god, they didn't introduce any useless love triangle here. I was afraid that Vikander's character's only purpose would be a love interest, but she is very much integral to the mission. Although this is an homage to the early spy movies it is still quite grounded, in that there are no ridiculous gadgets. So I like how they were able to balance the realism with the stylised nature of the movie.
At the same time a spy homage does come with its disadvantages. The threat in the story is very predictable, and you know exactly where it is going. There are no major surprises, and most likely even the little twists you will see them coming from miles away. Nevertheless the movie is peppered with clever humour and even the obvious innuendos are funny because of the characters, that you have satisfying ride. On a side note, there was a missed opportunity with Hammer's character, Illya. The movie constantly refers to his rage but we never really witness him fully lose control. I would've liked to have seen more of that side of him than being simply suggested to us.
Overall, my friends and I had an entertaining time in the cinema watching The Man from U.N.C.L.E. If you are looking for a funny adventure or action-comedy to enjoy with your friends and family, this is a very good choice for you to consider. In fact, I'd say I would actually like to see a sequel to this movie and go on more spy adventures with these characters.
A criminal organisation is on the verge of acquiring nuclear weapons. In the height of cold war a CIA agent Napoleon Solo (Henry Cavill) and KGB operative Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer) put aside their differences for a joint mission. This uneasy alliance must succeed to ensure world stability. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is a surprisingly fun homage to the earlier Bond type films. The team-up of two rivals for a common mission also added a new twist to an otherwise predictable story. The stylised approach to the film is part of the charm and the great chemistry among the cast brought moments of amusing tongue-in-cheek humour.
Full Review:
I am not familiar with the original show, it was way before my generation. However, with the dark tones of many blockbusters nowadays, it's refreshing to return to a lighter and more vibrant movie in the spy-genre. On top of that with Guy Ritchie directing, known for his witty dialogue and often odd humour, I had to check out his latest effort.
The style of the movie is what will immediately grab the attention of the audience. Although it may be a little over-romanticised, Guy Ritchie beautifully captures the glamour of the 60s. From the locales, cars, outfits, even the music are all aesthetically rich and beautiful. Still this movie is not all style, the three major characters are perfectly cast leading to an entertaining chemistry among them. Henry Cavill plays the more suave gentleman using his charisma to get what he wants. Whereas Armie Hammer's character is a more rugged man, and you really don't want to be on his bad side. These differences between the two complement well with each other and that's why half the fun of the movie is just watching them interact. The third major character is played by Alicia Vikander, a resourceful woman who should not be underestimated. And thank god, they didn't introduce any useless love triangle here. I was afraid that Vikander's character's only purpose would be a love interest, but she is very much integral to the mission. Although this is an homage to the early spy movies it is still quite grounded, in that there are no ridiculous gadgets. So I like how they were able to balance the realism with the stylised nature of the movie.
At the same time a spy homage does come with its disadvantages. The threat in the story is very predictable, and you know exactly where it is going. There are no major surprises, and most likely even the little twists you will see them coming from miles away. Nevertheless the movie is peppered with clever humour and even the obvious innuendos are funny because of the characters, that you have satisfying ride. On a side note, there was a missed opportunity with Hammer's character, Illya. The movie constantly refers to his rage but we never really witness him fully lose control. I would've liked to have seen more of that side of him than being simply suggested to us.
Overall, my friends and I had an entertaining time in the cinema watching The Man from U.N.C.L.E. If you are looking for a funny adventure or action-comedy to enjoy with your friends and family, this is a very good choice for you to consider. In fact, I'd say I would actually like to see a sequel to this movie and go on more spy adventures with these characters.