Review: The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015)

Another movie to add to the list I need to apologise to. When I went to London Comic Con earlier this year, the halls were plastered floor to ceiling with posters for The Man from U.N.C.L.E., and when I saw a trailer a couple of weeks later my reaction can be summed up with a sound that is probably typed like this: ‘pffffft’. Who/what was U.N.C.L.E. anyway? How are you meant to pronounce it? Can I say Uncle? Or do I have to spell out each letter? That seems so unnecessary! I can't believe you hadn't heard of the Man from U.N.C.L.E?? I can't say I'd watched it but I had heard of it, I think my parents may have watched it!

Fast forward to the present and I finally gave the movie a chance. I’m not sure what gave me the final nudge, but I was curious. I would later learn from my parents that it’s actually based on a 1960’s TV Show, which explained more than I thought. In fact, I just did an IMDB search for it to confirm the year, and the description is: ‘The two top agents of the United Network Command for Law and Enforcement fight the enemies of peace, particularly the forces of THRUSH.’ I’m sorry, what?! The forces of THRUSH? That made me laugh. Now what the hey does THRUSH stand for?! This literally made me spray lemonade through my nose, hilarious!! Just keep saying it though, THRUSH. Caps lock helps.

Our modern version stars Henry Cavill as CIA Agent Napoleon Solo and Armie Hammer as KGB Operative Illya Kuyakin (you must have googled this spelling?! How very rude, I am an excellent speller I'll have you know. I used IMDB actually!) who are forced to team up in a joint mission to stop a private criminal organisation from constructing nuclear weapons. Posing as Illya’s fiancee is Alicia Vikander as Gaby Teller, the daughter of the man responsible for the creation of the nuclear weapons.

Within the first five minutes I knew my assumptions were wrong. I mean, I wasn’t expecting it to be so funny! I’m just glad I watched this at home rather than surrounded by strangers out in public, because I was howling at that very first scene. I wish I could park my car like that! At first, I sniggered at every line Henry Cavill spoke because he was just oozing suave, well spoken manliness, but you get used to it after a while. There are some great gags that run through the story too, like Illya’s watch that he got from his father. In fact, my fiance and I cheered every time we saw a watch!

I actually didn't find it as funny as I hoped I would, there were moments when I laughed out loud but they were few and far between.  However, I did love Hammer and Cavill's chemistry, they were funny together and I found myself hoping for them to have more scenes together (take note Mr Ritchie for the sequel!!).  Although, I didn't find it as funny as I expected, I did love it!  The action sequences were great and the story was great (I did get a bit confused as I wasn't 100% concentrating I was distracted decorating my Christmas tree!! Oops!).  

The plot was a little predictable, and the action scenes, although extremely well done, didn’t bring anything new to the table, but it was still a really interesting story, and like I keep harping on about, the humour keeps you entertained throughout. In fact, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. reminds me of a cartoon I watched at a friends house called Archer. Archer is definitely aimed at adults, but it’s got many similarities. Check it out! YES!!

I’m so glad I watched this in the end, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a second movie sometime in the future. Has anyone watched the original TV show? How does it compare? Ooh I'd love to know...