The Man from U.N.C.L.E. - Review

2015 has seen a ‘resurgence’ of sorts for the spy movie genre, with the release of such hits as Kingsman: The Secret Service and the rather literally titled Spy, as well as the latest Mission Impossible film, Rogue Nation. The latest addition to this group is Guy Ritchie’s The Man from U.N.C.L.E., an adaptation of the 1960s TV series that popularized the genre (along with Ian Fleming’s 007 series). Ritchie brings his usual quick-fire pace and style to the film and creates an effective stylish 60s aesthetic that differentiates U.N.C.L.E. from generic action fare. The plot feels inconsequential but the rest of the film is just about fun enough to make up for it, featuring snappy dialogue and great performances from the whole cast.

Set in the height of the Cold War, Ritchie and Lionel Wigram’s script puts CIA agent Napoleon Solo (Henry Cavill) and KGB operative Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer) together on a mission to prevent a mysterious criminal organisation (led by Elizabeth Debicki) from proliferating nuclear weapons. It’s basically the same template as every other spy movie – Macguffin must be kept from bad guys with little motivation in order to save the world. Thankfully, the character interactions and performances from the cast really help to elevate the material. Cavill is suave, charming and is a master of line delivery, contrasting effectively against his screen partner Hammer, putting an intense, gruff and hilarious performance as Illya. With Alicia Vikander added in as the fiery Gaby, the film is at its best when the trio are bickering and eventually working together on screen.

The opening action set-piece set in Berlin is thrilling, clever and terrifically executed and the zippy first two acts fly by with sharp dialogue and decent action. Ritchie even has the confidence to cut half of a boat chase sequence so that Solo can have a ‘break’ – a move that creates the film’s funniest scene by far. However, this is where U.N.C.L.E. peaks, and once the climax kicks in, the film loses some of the fun conjured up before. Besides the leading pair, the rest of the cast feels underserved and lacking in development. Vikander’s Gaby is engaging but has little agency and isn’t given as much material to dig into like Cavill and Hammer are. Meanwhile, Debicki is wonderfully calculating and wicked for the little screentime she has, but her lack of scenes means that the villains end up feeling rather underwhelming and sidelined. 

Nevertheless, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is a breezy, solid romp that continues this year's streak of strong spy movies. It is bolstered by stylish flair – particularly the delightful 60s outfits – and a set of great performances that hide the generic plot and sometimes weak character development. Based on this film, Hammer and Cavill really deserve more plaudits than they've getting based on their previous work. 

★★★

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