The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024)

Fun War Adventure - The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare review by GI

A Boys Own Second World War crowd pleaser from Director Guy Ritchie who can never seem to rise quite to the occasion of his early films. This is all played for comic book styling and is very reminiscent of Inglourious Basterds (2009) but without that films panache. This is a fictionalised telling of a commando type mission to destroy German U boats and their supply ships in an African port. It's apparently based on a book by Damien Lewis and is about a real Operation codenamed Postmaster. The characters are all based on real people but the film goes for a fun, romp style that is all gung-ho, exaggerated and perhaps a little silly. Henry Cavill leads the ragtag team of ill disciplined soldiers on the mission who all treat war as a big game and relish in the killing of Nazis which Alan Ritchson as his No. 2 does most of. Henry Golding, Cary Elwes and Eiza González co star and Freddy Fox plays Ian Fleming, it being the case that Cavill's character was an inspiration for James Bond. Like much of Ritchie's output in recent times this has an infectiously entertaining veneer but lacks the zing that is promised. The witty banter is just not quite witty enough. It's good fun and there's a lot of explosions and shooting but it's fairly forgettable.

Nasty, inaccurate pro war propaganda. Not what id expected. - The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare review by JD

Yes, i know it Guy Ritchie and its going to be over the top and daft - but its not very good which then makes its flaws all the more unforgiving.

First up, the subject. A real operation. So being its based on a real operation youd think it would stay faithful to that operation.

No. Names, places are good. People and actions are from fantasy land. The characters are totally mis represented, which instantly turns some really brave stuff into a joke. The men that conducted this operation were brave men and this just poops on there memory. It was a silly mission, British political elites playing pirates at the risk of serious diplomatic fall out (sound familier - take today for instance) but the men conducting it were as courageous as they come. We did (and still do) lots of stupid stuff like this, but it doesnt change the fact the people carrying out the operations are clever, tough and brave.

Then we have the disgusting disregard for life. German troops (not present in the real operation, which was done cleverly - not with guns) are slaughtered like they are worthless animals. Our hero's often joking and laughing about it. It stinks of a pro-war propaganda to try and de-humanise anyone the political elite tell us is our enemy.

Its not funny, clever or dramatic. Its just childish and unrealistic at best. Brainwashing at worst.

It also shows the Germans are incompetent and utterly ineffective. When of course in reality, the German army of the 40's could claim to be the best trained, motivated and equipped military ever (relatively of course). Film wise it creates a zero risk situation and therefore removes all tension. Leaving you to wonder why they so happily butchering some kid who is just serving his country - like the brave lads serving ours.

This film left an unpleasant tast in our mouth. And forgetting the nasty undertones its a pretty rubbish film anyway. Unstoppable heros, do some race swapping, add a girl boss, some comic book bad guys... yawn.

On the bright side it prompted me to learn of the real operation. A far better use of your time than watching this garbage.