The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

Based on the book Churchill’s Secret Warriors: The Explosive True Story of the Special Forces Desperadoes of WWII by Damien Lewis, director Guy Ritchie’s new film follows former Superman star Henry Cavill as Gus March-Phillips.  He is sent on an off-the-books mission by Brig. Gubbins (Cary Elwes), who is backed by Churchill himself.  March-Phillips, renowned for his unorthodox methods and rule-breaking, is chosen for these characteristics, and ordered to assemble a team. If they are caught by the British, it means prison, while capture by the Nazis naturally means torture and death. 

He recruits Anders Lassen (Alan Richtson, best known for Reacher), Geoffrey “Apple” Appleyard (Alex Pettyfer) and Freddy Alvarez (Henry Golding, who previously starred in Ritchie’s film The Gentlemen).  They must sabotage the Nazi’s U-boat resupply operation on the Spanish-controlled island Fernando Po.  Two SOE agents, Marjorie Stewart (Eiza Gonzalez)and Richard Heron (Babs Olusanmokun), are working with March-Phillips and his men by distracting the Nazis on the land.

As the film concludes, and the real-life counterparts and further information about them are revealed, we learn that these men—especially March-Phillips—inspired Ian Fleming’s creation of James Bond.  This is not surprising because many of the hallmarks of a Bond movie are on display here, including wall-to-wall violence and stunts, espionage, and a beautiful woman (Gonzalez is simply marvelous in her role). Gubbins, whose nickname was “M”, surely inspired that famous 007 character.

Many of the events and people here might be real, but Ritchie’s filmmaking style makes it feel more like a World War II revenge fantasy in the vein of Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds.  It certainly earns its R-rating for the many sadistic action sequences featuring Cavill joyfully mowing down their enemies, while Ritchson—the most muscular and lethal of their team—dispatches them with stealthy bow-and-arrow takedowns, as well as ripping out Nazi throats and even hearts with his knife.  You can tell that the cast is having fun, which makes it easy to do the same.

This is a perfect example of style over substance, so don’t come into this film expecting subtlety.  There are no real surprises here. It’s sheer escapist entertainment that blends fact and fiction together well and features charismatic protagonists whose efforts in the war are genuinely laudable.  There might not be any villain here that matches Christoph Waltz’s terrifying performance in Tarantino’s film, and it lacks the tension found there.  Still, I enjoyed it a great deal and walked away satisfied, and if you temper your expectations, you may as well.  Ungentlemanly Warfare might not be gentle, but it is a bloody good time.

Rated R for strong violence throughout and some language.

2 hours