Stellar action sequences, tight editing, and a cast who is clearly having a blast, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is Guy Ritchie getting back to basics in a brilliant way. 

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare Review

Adapting author Damien Lewis’s 2014 novel about Winston Churchill’s classified execution of Operation Postmaster in 1942, Ministry is Ritchie's entry to the WWII genre, this generation's Inglourious Basterds, albeit with more jokes. Showcasing Nazi failures is a staple when portraying this time period. Ritchie does so with his signature flare, depicting one of their most epic fails. The script he co-wrote with Paul Tamasy (The Fighter), Eric Johnson (Patriots Day) and Arash Amel (A Private War), plays fast and loose with the actual details to deliver an entertaining, thrill-ride. The actual Operation Postmaster took only 30 minutes from the team's harbor entry to their swift exit, so some embellishment is to be expected to fill a two hour runtime. And Ritchie accomplishes this with his reinterpretation of the facts, adding in daring rescues, sexy espionage segments, and of course lots of bloody kill shots. You can't help but giggle as the characters gleefully mow down Nazis with mischievous grins all over their faces. 

The British forces need a win against the plague of Nazis infecting the planet. To accomplish this, Winston Churchill (Rory Kinnear) calls upon Gus March-Phillipps (Henry Cavill) to assemble a covert team tasked with infiltrating the Spanish island of Fernando Po off West Africa, where a crucial Nazi U-boat supply vessel is currently docked. If his team can manage it, they will deliver a massive blow to the Germans and make the Atlantic safe for supply runs and allies to make it to Britain. Gus only agrees if he can do things his way. The mission is a go with a group consisting of explosives expert Freddy Alvarez (Henry Golding), sailor Henry Hayes (Hero Fiennes Tiffin), Danish huntsman Anders Lassen (Alan Ritchson) and the ultimate planner, Geoffrey Appleyard (Alex Pettyfer). They're assisted by operatives Marjorie Steward (Eiza González) and Mr. Heron (Babs Olusanmokun) who are stationed at the harbor. That's it. The basics of the story and the players involved are set up efficiently so that they can make way for blood-soaked fight sequences and witty remarks. 

The bones of the story are all true, but in true Ritchie style he allows his imagination to fill in all the blanks for something that is exhilarating and amusing. That's right, this isn't some overly dramatic retelling of events. You won't find any Dunkirk or Oppenheimer vibes here because, like its director, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare isn't afraid to be fun. The violence is shot in that highly stylized way of Ritchie's while the edits are tight, keeping the energy high from start to finish. Plus, the cast is clearly having a blast, practically skipping through the scenes treating the Nazis as nothing more than targets in a carnival shooting game. It's playtime and they are all in. 

No one is having more fun than Cavill. He is finally allowed to cut loose and he makes the most of it, chewing the scenery every moment he's on screen. His portrayal of March-Phillips contains some of Solo, his cool-headed, James Bond-like character in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. as well as his more unique, off-centered Sherlock Holmes from Enola Holmes. The true strength of Ministry is when Cavill is interacting with the other members of his team. Ritchson is also a standout as he embodies a ruthless hunting machine with big golden retriever energy. The way he switches from brutally killing Nazis to happily waving to his friends (yes this actually happens) made me laugh out loud on more than one occasion. It's a beautiful thing when an ensemble cast just clicks like this and it is truly a treat to watch them all together on screen. My only complaint is that we didn't get more of them. I hope the in-home release includes bonus scenes and bloopers because we need them. 

The reason for less time spent with the misfits is to allow González and Olusanmokun their moment to shine. González is a scene-stealer as she seduces the rigid and unforgiving Nazi officer Heinrich Luhr (Til Schweiger). Olusanmokun is charming and witty as the de facto boss of the island. There isn't anything that happens on that beach without his knowledge or say so. Their subplot is thrilling, the more delicate cat-and-mouse to Gus' team's smash-and-grab, but it also means it takes away from the carnage-filled shenanigans of the others. Nothing exactly wrong with that, but this film could have also been just about Cavill and his team handing out justice and it would have been equally as amazing. Also a pleasure to watch is Cary Elwes. Delightful as always, he is Brigadier Colin M Gubbins, a key player in Churchill's game who commands the screen in what little time he gets. 

Ritchie is known for pulpy violence, quick-witted dialogue, and pacing that keeps the audience rooted from beginning to end. Ministry is no exception and is one of Ritchie's best films to date. It's a return to the basics for him, where he really shows off his love of hard R ratings and keeping everyone on their toes. It's not Snatch level, but it's a hell of a good time. There is something gratifying to watch as this motley crew go about their day, merrily decimating Nazis in increasingly inventive and graphic ways, effectively dancing on their graves. (Let's be real, more stories should do this.)   

VERDICT

Ultimately, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is a brilliantly bloody, hilarious, and incredible true-ish story told in a way that only Guy Ritchie can. It blends spy thrills with big action spectacle for one exciting thrill ride. Cavill and his fellow castmates are having the time of their lives and that infectious joy permeates the screen. And just when you think things are a bit too serious, some ungentlemanly soldier, likely Ritchson, appears to take down a Nazi with pizzazz. Ministry never takes itself too seriously but is bound to entice more than a few wikipedia searches to learn more about the real men and women behind this operation.

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is now in theaters. It is rated R for strong violence throughout and some language.