IR Film Review: THE MINISTRY OF UNGENTLEMANLY WARFARE [Lionsgate]
The aspect of making history both entertaining but also prevalent in character is a balance, especially when it involves action and comedy. With "The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare", director Guy Ritchie uses his approach to again make something off-the-cuff. His recent films have pulled back a little on budgets while still understanding his signature elements. As a result, these films (like his recent "Operation Fortune") feel a little more nimble without breaking the bank (and likely using independent financing). He can also tell more unusual stories with good casts working with him. Jerry Bruckheimer produced this and the film shot in Turkey so that experience comes nicely into hand. Ritchie again brings together a great cast both with new collabs and former.
Henry Cavill is making interesting choices but they at times are more character oriented than perspective ones. He is working with good directors which is very important. He was at CinemaCon for Lionsgate (including their event at Nobu) which shows he understands how the game is played. He has another film with them called "In The Grey" (again by Ritchie) which also co-stars Eiza Gonzalez who also co-stars here. One sequence with her doing Mack The Knife using a parallel with the takiing of a port is some of the better pacing and use that Ritchie has done in years (plus she knows the character and goes with it). There is a sense of play here, even though there is stakes. There is alot of killing but Ritchie knows that it is better to make it less blood filled and more tongue-in-cheek. At one point, during an earlier storming on a different space, it makes one think of the first "Predator" attacking a CIA stronghold but with less steroids, though no less effective.
Alan Ritchson, known recently for "Reacher" on Prime (which this reviewer hasn't seen) plays Lassen, a brute with a wicked sense of humor and a unique look. Ritchson balances Cavill who looks small compared to him. The rest of Cavill's crew is almost unrecognizable but powerful with Alex Pettyfer (who hasn't been seen in a while) as Apple, the planner. Then there is Henry Golding (slight unrecognzable) as Freddy, a demolitions expert. Bab Olumsanmakun gives an air of gravitas as Mr.Heron and the always menacing Til Schweiger (again not seen in a while) rounds it out as a dark figure of power in the port. The story is based in real life from a mission declassified in 2016 by MI6. This is a film that does everything right without trying to be anything more than it is. But what it is is effective without wasting scale, talent and efficiency of story, while still making it fun for a price. A-
By Tim Wassberg
