The Wasteland Reviewer

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024) Written Review

What does high style British director Guy Ritchie have up his sleeve next? The past five years have been interesting with The Gentlemen showing he can still find that street level crook flick that made him famous. Then he went full crime thriller with less of the film with the thrilling and impactful Wrath of Man.  Last year, he had two opposite efforts with Operation Fortune finding the humor again in a wild action thriller (even more Jason Stathem) as well as the fully serious and intense war film The Covenant. But with his latest, The Ministry of Gentlemanly Warfare combines the two with some fun and crazy action all set during a war setting. This true story about Operation Postmaster gives Ritchie quite the effective vehicle to do his thing.

Does this new true WWII story feel like a Ritchie film? There is zero doubt from the opening scene. Every character is sassy and clever as they hit banter back and forth at each other for two hours. Every single member of this “ministry” is SO cool. There are few directors (outside of Steven Soderbergh) who are as cool as Ritchie and this latest effort reinforces that. There is plenty of crazy absurd violence throughout the film. Everyone just feels bulletproof in such a way that they probably could just wink at a bullet, and it would stop. That is how cool these characters are. The dialogue is sharp, and the pace is brisk. All the best elements of Ritchie are on full display here. Even the score from Christopher Benstead is just straight cool and quite dynamic as it brings tons of personality to the film.

How about this miraculous story? There are three separate elements to it that all converge in the end. The main story with Henry Cavill’s Gus and his crew is by far the most entertaining and fun. Whenever this ragtag crew is one screen, you cannot help but be entertained. The chemistry between these performers is off the charts. Then you have the undercover duo of Eiza Gonzalez’s Marjorie and Babs Olusanmokun’s Heron. Their story has some fun elements (including a crazy and over-the-top Nazi leader who is an entertaining villain) but it is mostly more serious and intense. It is still well directed and acted but it just feels less entertaining than the rest. Then you have Churchill, M, and Ian Fleming make the most of their domestic sequences full of exposition. Overall, the film does an effective job of highlighting the impressive feat that this operation was.

Do the actors make a difference as well? Cavill is insanely charismatic and charming as he laughs with glee and throws around quips when he is straight destroying a bunch of Nazis and other fascist soldiers. Alan Ritchson just might steal the show as a towering behemoth of a soldier with quite the sense of humor and penchant for killing. Alex Pettyfer and Henry Golding get their moments too even if Hero Fiennes Tiffin is often the straight man to the nonsense. Cary Elwes and Rory Kinnear kill it as M and Churchill respectively. To be honest, I would like to see more of Kinnear as Churchill in the future as he captures the essence of this legendary figure. Gonzalez is seductive and charming as well and works off Olusanmokun’s cool persona on screen. Inglorious Basterds alum Til Schweiger is tons of fun as the evil Nazi leader in the film. Danny Sapani makes an appearance as a key player who just might steal every scene he is in as well. The cast is just top notch (as always) for a Ritchie outing.

But what doesn’t work about the film? As mentioned before, not every storyline is equal in this film. Some of them just don’t hit on the same level as following Cavill’s crew throughout the film. There is also a lack of weight to the drama and war elements. Everyone being bulletproof might be cool, but it leaves dramatic elements on the table. By the end of the film, the heroes just cut through the bad guys like butter. For a film about an actual military operation, you would hope there is some real impact to the danger. The third act also gets a bit repetitive when it is just the Ministry walking through places and shooting everyone with ease. Then they get on the boats and the guns get bigger and the danger only increases ever so slightly. Cavill’s Gus is such a fun character but him just throwing hilarious lines out during the big final battle reinforces the feeling of less real impact and more fun.

But what do you want from a Ritchie picture? His style is perfect for a crazy over-the-top war flick like this. Every character (for the most part) is so cool and incredibly entertaining to watch. This thrill ride leaves a giant smile on your face as you journey for two-hours with this unlikely crew of heroes. Ritchie still has it as he delivers fun film after fun film.