Guy Ritchie has been on a nice streak lately. Unfortunately, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is an overall mediocre entry into his filmography. Most of the movie is average with a few aspects that excel.
By far the best part of the movie is the action. I continue to thank filmmakers with the courage to go for an R rating. This movie is violent and not afraid to show it. Of course that's far from the only thing that makes good action. It's also well-shot, clear, hard-hitting and regularly brutal.
The other part I liked is (most of) the cast. The standouts are Henry Cavill and Eiza González, with the fan favorite (from my crowd's reaction) being Alan Ritchson. The rest of the cast is fine, but they are not given much to do in the way of performances or character.
Even with these positives, the movie overall couldn't get me excited. It has a fun tone but I just wasn't that invested (which is usually an easy task for me). I wasn't annoyed watching it, but I also was barely enjoying myself.
There is something else I couldn't stop thinking about. This doesn't necessarily impact my enjoyment. But the title and premise imply that in order to beat the Nazis, this British mission needs to "stoop to their level." They need to be ungentlemanly this time, when normally they are extra gentlemanly and honorable. If you know anything about British history, this notion is laughable.
To make it worse, nothing they do in this movie would seem ungentlemanly. There is no moral ambiguity. There are no dilemmas. The "good guys" are never portrayed as anything other than "good guys." So I don't really understand the point.
Look, I doubt anyone will hate it, and some may really like it. But for me, this is fairly forgettable and rewatch chances are near zero.
(1 viewing, early access screening 4/13/2024)
By far the best part of the movie is the action. I continue to thank filmmakers with the courage to go for an R rating. This movie is violent and not afraid to show it. Of course that's far from the only thing that makes good action. It's also well-shot, clear, hard-hitting and regularly brutal.
The other part I liked is (most of) the cast. The standouts are Henry Cavill and Eiza González, with the fan favorite (from my crowd's reaction) being Alan Ritchson. The rest of the cast is fine, but they are not given much to do in the way of performances or character.
Even with these positives, the movie overall couldn't get me excited. It has a fun tone but I just wasn't that invested (which is usually an easy task for me). I wasn't annoyed watching it, but I also was barely enjoying myself.
There is something else I couldn't stop thinking about. This doesn't necessarily impact my enjoyment. But the title and premise imply that in order to beat the Nazis, this British mission needs to "stoop to their level." They need to be ungentlemanly this time, when normally they are extra gentlemanly and honorable. If you know anything about British history, this notion is laughable.
To make it worse, nothing they do in this movie would seem ungentlemanly. There is no moral ambiguity. There are no dilemmas. The "good guys" are never portrayed as anything other than "good guys." So I don't really understand the point.
Look, I doubt anyone will hate it, and some may really like it. But for me, this is fairly forgettable and rewatch chances are near zero.
(1 viewing, early access screening 4/13/2024)