FilmSnobReviews

Title: The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Guy Ritchie
Starring: Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Alicia Vikander
Runtime: 1 hr 56 min

What It Is: In the midst of the Cold War both Russia and the United States do not trust each other…at all. So when the two are forced to work together in the form of American spy Napoleon Solo (Cavill) and his red counterpart Illya Kuryakin (Hammer). The two must get along in order to help an East Berlin mechanic (Vikander) find her dad, who holds the key to nuclear war. Let’s just hope they don’t kill each other first.

What We Think: I like this! Ritchie brings his style to the spy genre and offers up a somewhat fresh take. Cavill kills it with his deadpan delivery, and Hammer… well nails it frankly. The villain isn’t all that impressive and the film does not know what it wants to do. Normally pacing is not a problem for Ritchie as he moves things along at a swift and concise speed. Here he tries and tries and tries to do that, but it just does not happen. In addition, there is this weird moment where the movie feels like it has been completely deflated. That comes and there was still like 45 mins left in the film.

Our Grade: C+, It is the classic case of style over substance that is bound to happen to every director. Well, chalk one up for Ritchie! I didn’t expect anything out of this so I was a bit surprised by it. I can go ahead and recommend this to people who want a really cool Cold War spy film. Something that harkens back to Moore and Connery’s days as a tuxedoed spy. Grab a martini, shaken not stirred and sit back for a pretty good thrill in this one. It will be hitting Blu-Ray on the 17th of November so you won’t have to wait long!