Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres this Friday from director Guy Ritchie and Lionsgate comes a story about a group with special talents as THE MINISTRY OF UNGENTLEMANLY WARFARE.

It is 1940 World War II and Winston Churchill (Rory Kinnear) is up against the ropes. Looking to Brigadier Grubbins aka M (Gary Elwes) to make something happen, he brings in Ian Fleming (Freddie Fox), Mr. Heron (Babs Olusanmokun) and Marjorie Stewart (Eiza Gonzalez) together so they can meet Gus March-Phillipps (Henry Cavill).

Gus is a man who knows how to get the job done but is constantly in trouble for it because he ignores orders. That’s what M is hoping for in a mission to destroy one important ship that could turn the tide for the U.S. to get involved and safe passage across the oceans. Gus agrees to the mission but he wants his team of misfits including Anders Lassen (Alan Ritchson), Freddy Alvarez (Henry Golding), Henry Hayes (Hero Fiennes Tiffin).

There is one member of the team Gus is requesting, Geoffrey Appleyard (Alex Pettyfer), who has been captured by the Nazi’s but the group agrees that rescue is on its way to their mission site. Meeting them there is Stewart and Heron who are setting things up. Heron makes it clear that Stewart needs to get in the good graces of Heinrich Luhr (Til Schweiger), a man who gives off evil vibes.

As the plan goes sideways, leave it to the group to make it work because they must!

Cavill as Gus is hilarious, focused and won’t do any mission without the help of the crew he trusts. He is a leader and allows his crew to help make Churchill’s plan come to fruition. I have to say, Cavill looks like he is having the time of his life being a bad guy doing bad things but for a good cause. He gives his character a calm and a bit of a twisted fashion sense that lends to a great character.

Golding as Alvarez plays off Cavill’s character with ease. Together, they are amazing with Golding’s character enjoying making mayhem with loud explosions. He is all in when it comes to making sure the plan happens, Golding gives us a different look at a role that just works for him. Tiffin as Hayes is a young man who has his reasons for being part of the crew, he believes in Gus as the leader and is ready for anything.

Gonzalez as Stewart learns who she must deal with and may be wary but it doesn’t stop her from handling herself through the mission. Olusanmokun as Mr. Heron knowns his assignment and sees it through. Elwes as M tries to be very military but underneath, he knows that choosing Gus and the gang that rules will be broken. I love his eyerolls at the introduction of Gus and I’m just thrilled to see Elwes on the screen.

Ritchson as Lassen is the strong and brutal type who makes Legolas from Lord of the Rings looks like an amateur and its hilarious. Ritchson can also be seen in the recently released ORDINARY ANGELS in a totally different role as a father with a child that is seriously ill. Pettyfer as Appleyard is witty and happy to be part of the group. His Magic Mike days have shown he has grown as an actor and in this film, he gets a chance to be part of an amazing group. Kinnear as Churchill is as unrecognizable in this role as he was in the Penny Dreadful performance. As Churchill, Kinnear follows the story of what the prime minister went through during a very difficult time for Britian during the war. Kinnear gives a wonderful performance.

Schwiger as Luhr is a very twisted character but then again it is not a difficult role since he is now the opposite of his 2099 role of Sgt. Hugo Stiglitz. That character hunted Nazi’s and now Luhr is the Nazi who is as brutal as his stone face.

Shout out to Danny Sapani as Bilil, he gets to be part of something that will rid his island of the Nazi’s. Sapani has a nice moment with Cavill’s Gus as both characters make it clear that their goal is destruction of evil.

Other cast include James Wilby as Viscount Algernon, Henrique Zaga as Captain Binea, Danny Sapani as Kambili Kalu, Matthew Hawksley as Sir Percy, Simon Paisley Day as Admiral Pound, and Mark Oosterveen as Air Marshall Dowding.

The film is based on the book from Damien Lewis The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare: How Churchill’s Secret Warriors Set Europe Ablaze and Gave Birth to Modern Black Ops. The script was done by Arash Amel as Guy Ritchie signed on to direct the film.

THE MINISTRY OF UNGENTLEMANLY WARFARE is a thrill to watch from start to finish. Watching a plan come together is always a fun even if it doesn’t go exactly as everyone thought. There is something to be said for ignoring your superiors and that, in fact, is why the gang was asked to do what would be considered impossible.

The cast is amazing led by Cavill but, at the same time, he doesn’t overshadow anyone. Each character stands out in their own way based on what they were good at – like Golding’s Alvarez and explosives. That’s a talent in itself but you add Hayes driving the boat and Cavill’s twisted sense of humor – it all just works so well and its fun..

Gather up your own gang and see the impressive, thrilling and action-packed film so you can jaw drop and cheer a part of history that is now out for the world to know about.

In the end – together they are deadly but that’s what others count on!

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