2015 has played host to a new wave of Spy films which have changed the genre altogether. We've had Kingman, the sophisticated spoof, Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, the hard-edged stunt film, and Spectre is to hit theatres in late October and is a modern version of the franchise. The Man From UNCLE follows this pattern of modernizing the genre but, unlike the others it keeps a foot in the old ways as it's a 60's spy movie made in the stylized directorial vision of Guy Ritchie.
The film takes place in the 1960's, at the time of the Cold War between the West and the East (Mainly America and the Soviet Union). And the film does well to set up the tension between the two sides, even for those with little knowledge on the era, within the first 10 minutes as the two main characters, played by Cavill and Hammer, run around East Berlin in a high-tense game of cat-and-mouse. This sequence helps to set up the character traits for both Cavill's Napoleon Solo, who acts like an American version of Connery's Bond, with his calm demeanor and sharp style. Which completely parallels with Hammer's Illya Kuryakin, who is slightly more Bourne than Bond, with his sheer determination and passion to catch his target. This may have been the best scene within the film.
Sadly the film doesn't seem to improve there, in terms of plot. As the film follows a generic spy storyline of an elaborate organisation has obtained a nuclear weapon and threatens to detonate it unless the spy protagonist can locate and disarm the weapon. Honestly I was expecting a bit more from Guy Ritchie who's made films like Lock, Stock, RockNRolla and Sherlock Holmes which had very intricate and fascinating plots. So for this film to not take liberties with its plot is kinda disappointing.
But what this film lacks in plot it makes up for in style. This film completely delves into the 60's in terms of fashion and look with the fast cars and sharp suits. Which is very reminiscent of early Bond films, with the exotic locations, expensive suits and high class parties, and it worked really well for the film as it gave it more of an extravagant factor to it, yet still having that Guy Ritchie feel to it. One scene in particular where it's quite clear that this is a Guy Ritchie film was at the factory where the two spies are attempting to escape being caught by henchmen. Solo falls off the boat and decides to take a break in a nearby truck, listening to the radio, eating a sandwich whilst watching his partner attempt to escape custody. This is textbook Guy Ritchie by mixing tension with humour as the audience enjoys the care-free attitude of Solo whilst worrying about Kuryakin, who's clearly in serious trouble. This is reminiscent of the fight scenes in the Sherlock Holmes films where tension and humour we're very well mixed, except the tension is toned down for this film.
Speaking of Sherlock Holmes, Ritchie gives us another lovable pair with Solo and Kuryakin who's tense partnership shines out very well. Cavill and Hammer seem to have great on-screen chemistry as they're able to bounce off one another extremely well, perfectly convey two highly decorated spies who struggle to work as a team.
As a whole I really liked this film as it reminded of old Bond films whilst still keeping that Guy Ritchie style, whom I'm a fan of. However, the narrative did let it down and honestly stops this good movie from being great.
7/10
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