The Man From UNCLE Review

More Than a Solo Effort

THERE ARE TWO Guy Ritchies. One Guy Ritchie directs terrible British gangster films like Revolver and RocknRolla while the other Guy Ritchie makes very watchable action movies like the two Robert Downey Jr Sherlock Holmes films. I wasn’t sure which one would turn up for duty here but i am glad to report that it’s the latter rather the former. The original TV series was an enjoyable slice of sixties spy daftness with Robert Vaughn and David McCallum respectively as Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin fighting for the United Network Command for Law Enforcement against the evil spy network THRUSH. This time around, Solo is a criminal who has been blackmailed into working for the CIA, while Kuryakin is the KGB’s top agent and assassin. They are forced together to prevent a nuclear warhead getting into the wrong hands. Set during the Sixties, Ritchie has created a stylish and engaging story with enough action, humour and fashionable men and women to keep the audience satisfied. Cavill and Hammer do actually have some chemistry as spies on opposing sides and they also look the part. Alicia Vikander as Gaby, the East German mechanic who may or may not be working for the ruthless Victoria (Elizabeth Debicki), is stunning on screen but Ritchie does give her equal weight with Solo and Kuryakin and cameos from Jared Harris as Solo’s handler Sanders and Hugh Grant as British intelligence man Waverly, a nod to Leo G Carroll’s character in the original TV show, are nicely handled. The Man From UNCLE is a fun, lively and diverting two hours which acts as a worthy nod to the original TV series and Ritchie has put the wheels in motion for a follow-up. It’s not going to set the world on fire but it will keep you occupied while you’re watching it. With a summer that’s not been great for blockbusters and action movies so far, The Man From UNCLE fits the summer slot like a fashionable Italian glove…

JOEL MEADOWS

Director: Guy Ritchie, Stars: Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Alicia Vikander

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