The Man from U.N.C.L.E

Saturday 15th August at 20:30

Style over substance?

I like the original Guy Richie films, Snatch being one of my all time favourite films, but of late Mr Ritchie has seemed a little off form.  As well, I recall many a Friday night at my substitute Grandad George's house watching re-runs of the classic spy tv show U.N.C.L.E.  I loved Robert Vaughn and David McCallum in their roles, so I had a little background going into this film

The one thing that stands out in this re-invigoration is the style.  Be it from the occasional Ritchie camera flair that he has, the excellent soundtrack or the sheer beauty of the fashion portrayed, the film just has pazazz.  As I left the cinema though, I had completely forgotten what I had watched.  I enjoyed the two hours of entertainment but it was not memorable or inspiring at all, which is why it has taken me over a week to write the review, I was just not inspired to do so.

There are some fun scenes, and then there are the ones that start great but drag on far too long. There is also a little trope used where a scene will play out and then it will go back to a pinnacle point from a different perspective and show how a scam or event played out from our heroes point of view. The first time this is used it is quirky and fun, by the umpteenth time it is just a ploy to engineer easy plot points and becomes tedious.  It got to the point where I was expecting a "repeat shot" and the surprise element had gone.

The plot is very bland and I can honestly say, I can't really remember much about it.  There was a billionaire and a girl who had married into the family with heinous ambitions, but that is about it.

Alicia Vikander is stunning and fits the era very well, Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer play the agents of U.N.C.L.E with flair, but it all lacks pretty much everything else.

I think Armie should start to avoid the 1960's TV show re-imaginings as they are not working out too well for him at the moment.

And why does it always have to be franchises at the moment? Always with origins leading to a franchise!