Henry Cavill trades in his Superman outfit for a swanky spy suit in “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.
The Man From U.N.C.L.E. is based on a ’60s television show of the same name that I had heard of, but knew absolutely nothing about. I, like many moviegoers, have been fatigued over the years by constant remakes and reboots and I went in with minimal expectations, at best. Little did I know The Man From U.N.C.L.E was about to take me on a thrill ride that was so much fun it would easily become one of my favorite films of the summer.
The film follows CIA agent Napoleon Solo and KGB operative Illya Kuryakin through a mission to stop a criminal organization that is working on developing nuclear weapons for worldwide destruction. The plot isn’t particularly deep or groundbreaking, but it is everything the movie needs to keep the action high and the banter hilarious. Napoleon is played by Man of Steel‘s Henry Cavill, and he absolutely kills the role. He is sharp, funny, smart and he always gets the ladies, as any spy should. Kuryakin is played by Armie Hammer who I haven’t seen since The Lone Ranger. I am glad he is back because he is fantastic as the unstoppable and unstable KGB agent. Hammer and Cavill have great chemistry and complement each other well, with their onscreen interactions feeling very natural and effortless.
Armie Hammer as KGB agent Illya Kuryakin. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.
One of the things that gave me hope for this film from the start is director Guy Ritchie. I have been a huge fan of his work ever since I saw Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. He has a really unique visual style and he usually backs it up with a solid story involving interesting characters. This is achieved once again with a very fun, color-saturated 1960s backdrop and two very unlikely heroes who have to work together to prevent worldwide catastrophe. The crazy editing and fast-paced cuts we have seen him do in the past are back and better than ever, and the over the top flashiness just adds to the movie and never takes anything away. One of the best things about this film is the use of music. The score and soundtrack is a phenomenal mix of very traditional spy movie music, ’60s jams, classic Italian music and original pieces, all of which enhances the atmosphere and story without being distracting.
Elizabeth Debicki as the villainous Victoria Vinciguerra. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.
This movie isn’t non-stop action throughout, but it never drags. The back-and-fourth spats between Napoleon and Kuryakin are consistently funny and never feel forced. One thing I really enjoy about the film is the screen time seems very even between both lead characters. The two strong male leads are also well balanced by a great cast of supporting characters. There is the charming, yet tough and resourceful, Gaby Teller (Alicia Vikander) and the unassuming Alexander Waverly (Hugh Grant) as the head of United Network Command for Law and Enforcement (U.N.C.L.E.). The villain Victoria (Elizabeth Debicki) is a bit of a cliché and lacks dimension. In the end, however, she’s strong enough to provide a threat to the heroes as well as set up a climatic ending that left me grinning when the credits rolled. U.N.C.L.E. is a fun, light summer flick. If you are a fan of the spy genre, Guy Ritchie or buddy movies, you will not be disappointed.