Sometimes an ensemble of handsome spies killing Nazis is all you need
Heist films are commonly fun to watch, since they often include an ensemble cast, clever misdirections, and clearly defined stakes. In essence, Guy Ritchie’s latest film, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, is a World War II heist film. It’s based on Damien Lewis’s 2014 book Churchill’s Secret Warriors: The Explosive True Story of the Special Forces Desperadoes of WWII. The film isn’t as bloody as you may expect (it’s still very violent). It’s not as funny or fast-paced as you may expect from Guy Ritchie, nor is it as dramatic. Yet, it carries a modicum of each element which, when put together, forms a solidly entertaining spy action flick.
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare takes place between 1941-1942 as the British military was struggling against Nazi U-Boats in the Atlantic Ocean. Prime Minister Winston Churchill (Rory Kinnear), Brigadier Gubbins (Cary Elwes), and Lt Commander Ian Fleming (Freddie Fox) hatch a plan to enlist Major Gus March-Phillipps (Henry Cavill) to lead a rag-tag team of military specialists on an unofficial mission, code name Operation Postmaster, to disrupt Nazi supply ships. The ships are docked at Fernando Po, a Spanish Island in neutral territory, hence the mission’s off-the-record status. On purpose or accidentally, Ritchie pays homage to Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds through tonal and narrative elements (and the films even share a significant cast member, Til Schweiger). In one particular instance, a strikingly similar plot development in Ministry echoes one of Basterds most memorable moments.
Ministry’s ensemble cast plays well together. The enlisted team of misfits includes Alan Ritchson (Reacher), Henry Golding (The Gentlemen), Eiza González (3 Body Problem), and Babs Olusanmokun (Dune). They each pull off stereotypical British detachment in the face of danger rather well. Ritchie excels at directing this type of humor, and the cast delivers. The real standout is Ritchson, who channels his Reacher big man charm and physicality to get the film’s biggest laughs. Line delivery and physicality are all the actors have to work with, considering character backstories are quickly dispensed with in an expository recruitment montage, always a fun storytelling tactic. The actors can therefore embrace their quirks without the need to emote meaningful arcs. Ministry is not really about the characters. It’s about the mission – one pleasingly filled with physical sets and mostly practical effects. This isn’t an epic war movie by any means. It’s a fun, loud, fictional portrayal of a singular moment that greatly influenced the war. Not as fictionalized as Basterds, mind you. Ministry nevertheless goes down smoothly while enticing viewers to further research the real-life Operation Postmaster.
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The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare opens in theaters on Friday, April 19th.
