The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

 

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024)

The Best Popcorn Action Film of the Summer

★★★½☆

Watched 12 May 2024 — A high-octane throwback that prioritizes "good natured fun" over heavy-handed dramatics.

Directed by Guy Ritchie, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare cements his status as a premier crowd-pleasing action director. Moving away from his early independent "Tarantino-esque" roots, Ritchie has evolved into a versatile filmmaker capable of tackling everything from Aladdin to the tortured drama of The Covenant. Here, he returns to the "men-on-a-mission" subgenre with his trademark visual flair and breathtaking practical effects, delivering a stylized WWII romp that feels like a spiritual successor to his work on The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

"Is there a better prolific mainstream director working today than Guy Ritchie? One can try and make an argument. But for my money I'd say no."

— Ray Manukay

🎬 Cast & Crew

• Director: [Guy Ritchie](https://www.imdb.com)
• Starring: [Henry Cavill](https://www.imdb.com), [Alan Ritchson](https://www.imdb.com), Eiza González
• Supporting: Henry Golding, Alex Pettyfer, Til Schweiger
• Source Material: Based on the book by [Damien Lewis](https://www.damienlewis.com)

The Vision

Ritchie’s vision for this project is refreshingly straightforward: a focus on affable, attractive characters fighting "uncomplicated evil Nazis." By stripping away the non-linear complexity of his early career, he leans into a kinetic, muscular style of filmmaking. The film functions as a celebration of British resilience and "ungentlemanly" tactics, utilizing practical special effects to ground the stylized violence. It proves Ritchie can master the big-budget Hollywood machine while maintaining the distinct, energetic edge that makes his work stand out in the mainstream landscape.

🎬 Cinephile Fun Facts

• The Bond Connection: Henry Cavill’s character, Gus March-Phillipps, was a primary real-life inspiration for Ian Fleming’s James Bond. Fleming himself is a character in the film.
• The Ritchie/Cavill Reunion: This marks the second collaboration between Ritchie and Cavill, following 2015's The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
• Historical Basis: The film depicts Operation Postmaster, a secret mission so controversial the British government kept it classified for decades.

✅ Pros

• Memorable performances across the entire ensemble cast.
• Breathtaking, practical special effects and visuals.
• Pure, unapologetic "popcorn" fun.

❌ Cons

• Lacks the narrative depth of The Covenant.
• Villains are somewhat one-dimensional "evil Nazis."
• Follows a very familiar mission-movie template.

🏆 Final Verdict

A triumphant confirmation of Guy Ritchie’s status as a master of the modern action film. If you want high stakes without the pretension, this is the best ride of the summer. Go watch it, then head to Netflix for The Gentlemen.

View on Letterboxd