The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare: A Thrilling but Flawed WWII Epic
British soldiers in action during WWII
As a fan of Guy Ritchie’s stylized violence and witty dialogue, I was excited to dive into his latest film, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. The trailer promised an action-packed thrill ride, and while the film delivers on that front, it falls short in other areas.
The true story of a small group of skilled soldiers taking on the German forces behind enemy lines during WWII is inherently compelling. Ritchie’s direction brings this story to life with impressive action sequences and stunning visuals. However, the film’s pacing suffers from downtime between these intense scenes, making the two-hour runtime feel like a slog.
One of the standout performances comes from Henry Cavill as Major Gus March-Phillipps, but the rest of the cast is relegated to the background, with little screen time or memorable dialogue. This is surprising, given Ritchie’s talent for crafting memorable characters in films like Snatch and Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels.
The film’s creative liberties with the true story also detract from its believability. The lack of consequences for the characters’ actions and the ease with which they take down their enemies make it difficult to fully invest in the story.
Despite these flaws, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is still an entertaining film, with some truly impressive action sequences and stunning visuals. It’s just not the masterpiece I was hoping for.
Henry Cavill shines as Major Gus March-Phillipps
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare earns a solid B- from me, but I was hoping for another The Gentlemen. Maybe next time, Ritchie will deliver a film that truly lives up to its potential.
The action scenes are intense and thrilling
