The Man from U.N.C.L.E. : Movie Review

For those who might not be old enough to remember, “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” is the big screen adaptation of the popular 1960’s television series. I have never actually watched the classic series, but it’s a safe bet that it was nothing like the film. Written and directed by Guy Ritchie, this is a slick, stylish, and mostly entertaining action-spy-comedy.

When master thief turned CIA Agent Solo (Henry Cavill) is forced to partner up with KGB operative Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer), neither of them are too happy about it. After all, just hours earlier they almost killed each other while on opposite sides. In a joint mission between the United States and Russia, Solo and Illya must go undercover with Gaby (Alicia Vikander) so she can lead them to her father who has been working on a Nuclear weapon.  Illya and Gaby pose as a couple in order to get close to the story’s villains Victoria (Elizabeth Debicki) and Alexander (Luca Calvani).

“U.N.C.L.E.” has some major flaws, most notably in its poorly edited action sequences. The zooming in-and-out chase scene at the end gave me a headache. The film is at its’ best when Cavill (looking more like Superman here than he did playing Superman) is playing off Hammer and vice versa. Although Cavill has come off stiff in past roles, he is really good at playing slick, even if it’s for comedic effect. It is Hammer however who steals the scenes here.

The story elements in “U.N.C.L.E.” which has the two spies going after a criminal organization is easily forgettable but it’s the cast that keep things fun. I like Ritchie as a filmmaker but I feel he was at his best when working on smaller films like “Snatch” , “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels”, and “RocknRolla”. “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” may not be great but it’s more fun than Ritchie’s “Sherlock Holmes” films.

By: Marc Ferman