The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is the latest action-comedy spy caper directed by Guy Ritchie and is actually quite entertaining in the typical over-the-top Ritchie style.
Ritchie co-wrote the screenplay alongside Paul Tamasy, Eric Johnson, and Arash Amel. Henry Cavill is in the lead as Major Gus March-Phillipps. He is joined by an impressive cast that includes Alan Ritchson, Eiza Gonzalez, Henry Golding, Alex Pettyfer, Rory Kinnear, and Cary Elwes. The film is loosely based on the history surrounding a group of rogue operatives who worked secretly for Winston Churchill in efforts to disrupt Nazi activities during the Second World War.
The major and his company are sent on a mission to destroy a German supply ship docked at an island known as Fernando Po. They first have to rescue an ally who has fallen into the hands of the Nazis. They also are conspiring with a couple of spies on the island. Gonzalez plays an actress and singer named Marjorie Stewart who is assigned to seduce a Nazi commander on the island. The background is a mission known as Operation Postmaster, which apparently really happened. Of course, Ritchie took some creative liberties with the historical figures and events.
There is a lot of gratuitous violence throughout the film, but it’s pretty well choreographed and is entertaining to watch. The set designs are great. Gonzalez may be one of the most beautiful women I have seen onscreen in some time. Also, the rogue agents recruited by Churchill were great. There was some quintessential British deadpan humor that really makes this film work. I appreciated the humorous stoicism displayed by the team during the setbacks or what would be traumatic events to anyone else. Somehow, it’s almost always satisfying to watch Nazis getting mowed down with the frequency that occurs in this particular film.
I should note that Cavill’s role is apparently an inspiration for James Bond. Ian Fleming appears as a character as well and is plated by Freddie Fox.
Yes, this is a pretty ridiculous film but an enjoyable one. It also reveals another interesting historical piece of World War II that could bear some further research
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