During World War II, Winston Churchill helped form a clandestine service known as the Special Operations Executive. Though its deeds weren’t declassified for some time, the branch’s activities were as infamous as its personnel, which included the likes of Ian Fleming and Christopher Lee. Many nicknames were given to this organization, and co-writer/director Guy Ritchie used one such name, as well as the real exploits of the SOE, to deliver The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare: a movie so unapologetic in its fun that you can’t help but smile along with the bloodshed and destruction.
The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare
Release Date: April 19, 2024
Directed By: Guy Ritchie
Written By: Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson and Arash Amel & Guy Ritchie
Starring: Henry Cavill, Eiza González, Alan Ritchson, Alex Pettyfer, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Babs Olusamokun, Henrique Zaga, Til Schweiger, with Henry Golding, and Cary Elwes
Rating: Rated R for strong violence throughout and some language
Runtime: 120 minutes
In true Ritchie fashion, we’re quickly introduced to Henry Cavill as Gus March-Phillipps, a troublemaker who excels at ignoring orders. So, of course, he’s part of a handpicked group that’s tasked with disrupting a Nazi U-Boat port in Spanish Guinea. Military victory opens the Atlantic Ocean and potentially allows the U.S. to join the fight, and failure is nothing short of death.
Right about now, you’re beginning to form an impression of The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, and I have a feeling your vision is pretty accurate. However, where this black ops blockbuster surpasses those expectations is the fact that instead of merely acting like the next Inglourious Basterds, Guy Ritchie’s picture throws in some DNA from Ocean’s Eleven and his own The Man from U.N.C.L.E. to sweeten the deal.
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare beautifully crosses a heist movie and a special ops adventure.
While death and destruction are a huge part of The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’s mission, the inclusion of well-orchestrated subterfuge and spycraft separates this delightful romp from merely copying other “men on a mission” movies. The planning and execution of the event known as Operation Postmaster plays out through almost the entirety of the movie with very little time spent beyond the action. The roughly two-hour film flies with nothing weighing down its narrative.
This is valuable once the Guy Ritchie flair and panache start to kick in. Composer Christopher Benstead’s musical score is an especially effective driver, reminiscent of Daniel Pemberton’s jazzy but deadly music backing The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Everything from stealing documents to infiltrating a costume party sounds as slick as it looks, and The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare looks absolutely gorgeous.
The mix of a real World War II mission with Guy Ritchie’s style makes for breezy entertainment – the film’s purpose above all else is to entertain – but there are some glaring omissions in the end title cards that describe the lives of the real people played by stars Henry Cavill, Eiza González, and Alan Ritchson. While not disrespectful, that particular gesture feels like it stops short. That being said, the movie is not meant to be a history lesson, but rather a thrill ride that pays tribute to actual history.
Cast and filmmakers alike clearly had a ball making The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, but the madness gets reined in when gravitas is required.
The cast of The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare lacks any weak links in the chain. The light tone of good old fashioned Nazi killing stays firmly in place throughout the journey, and it’s bloody business; even the squeamish might be able to bear it a bit better thanks to the absolute ball everyone acting in this movie is having. To be that entertaining and not betray the gravity of the actual historical events is a feat that’s always commendable.
When it comes to Guy Ritchie movies, part of the fun is seeing who he breaks out from his repertory company for the adventure. Actors Henry Cavill, Henry Golding, Babs Olusanmokun, and Cary Elwes are all part of the returning Ritchie rabble rousers in The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, and they grease the wheels for this picture to fly. What’s more, they mesh rather well with the newcomers that round out the gang.
Henry Cavill and Alan Ritchson especially seem to be the pair nobody knew they needed before. Ritchson’s Anders Lassen is especially adept at walking the line between playful and destructive in scenes that sometimes see him waving a freshly used axe at his compatriots as a greeting. Of course, the credit isn’t merely for the men of the picture, as The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare boasts the first of several films that will see Guy Ritchie teaming up with actor Eiza González.
González in particular shines thanks to holding her own against not only frequent scene partner Olusanmokun, but also Inglourious Basterds alum and Ministry villain Til Schweiger. Part of the latter enterprise sees the actor singing “Mack The Knife” in both English and German in a scene that reinforces the crossroads between danger and dazzle.
Neither side of film’s tone is treated as unimportant, as the jovial nature of The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare does at times give way to more horrific or serious moments of heroism. For as effortlessly light as this film is being sold, and as much as it does live up to that hype, however, it’s never disrespectful when it comes to its depiction of the anxieties of war.
Guy Ritchie’s current entertainment streak is left unbroken thanks to this secret mission finally brought to light.
Guy Ritchie continues to deliver solid, effortless entertainment with The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, and it continues a streak that he’s been on with films like Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre, Wrath of Man, and The Gentlemen. Lately, it feels like the man is working overtime with the workload in which he’s indulging, and it’s only going to be under a year until his next picture In the Grey will see him once more heading to theaters, with dependable leads like Henry Cavill and Eiza González along for the ride.
In the years since his live-action remake of Aladdin, Ritchie has been warming up with a bunch of smaller scale projects displaying his lean and mean indie roots quite well. While there’s more of a punch to the budget used to bring The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare to life, the efficiency is equally unquestionable. Where those warm ups will lead has yet to be determined, but the journey along the way has been admirable.
If you’re going into The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare for fun, you’ll definitely get it – but you’ll need to do some of your own research to learn the true history. While the movie more uses the past as the inspiration for fun storytelling, it still honors the Special Operations Executive and their role in sabotaging the Nazi war machine. And if you’re a fan of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. who’s still waiting on that sequel, this is more than enough to scratch that particular spy-fi itch.
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