Guy Ritchie films have the reputation for having larger-than-life characters, quippy dialogue and lots of quick-cut brutal fight scenes. And he’s had a pretty steady output of these films since his Sherlock Holmes movies in the late 00’s. His latest, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, sees him reuniting with his The Man From U.N.C.L.E. star Henry Cavill, who at that point was most well-known for playing Superman. Cavill has had a more difficult time than expected finding where he belongs in Hollywood post-superhero movie franchise. I argue it’s right with Mr. Ritchie.

Allegedly inspired/based(?) on real historical events uncovered in recently unclassified files from the British War Department in World War II, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare follows Special Operations Executive, a combat unit brought together by Winston Churchill mid-WII, who embark on a mission to sabotage parts of nazi-occupied Europe. This team of criminals, basically, are known for their brutality and are brought together due to their individual talents. Wisecracks and bloodshed and hijinks ensue.

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is like Guy Ritchie’s take on Inglourious Basterds with a dash of the Kingsman franchise thrown in for good measure. It’s also very much what you would expect from a Guy Ritchie film. It’s got the quick, zippy dialogue and the big, dramatic action sequences you want from his best. He’s shown himself to have versatility if not always success as a filmmaker, in recent years, with everything from a serious war drama (last year’s The Covenant) to a Disney musical (Aladdin). But this is what he knows how to do best.Ministry is admittedly not as good as the films it’s trying to emulate. I do not care. What we have here is a very fun, zippy, hilarious, intense romp full of very hot people brutally killing nazis and making it look fun. What’s not to like?

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is a ton of fun off the top, and effectively sets the mood for what the audience should expect for the duration. In addition to the aforementioned films there’s also a lot of the James Gunn The Suicide Squad here, in that we have this unlikely group of heroes, any of whom could snap and mess things up at any moment. And there’s some tension in that in addition to the good time atmosphere. But mainly, everyone here is simply having a good time.

Henry Cavill can’t help but be enormously appealing and charming, playing a character who is said to have been Ian Flemming’s inspiration for the character of James Bond. Cavill has that whole thing in the bag, and I’m not the first one to suggest maybe he’s the right choice to play that iconic character next.  I also don’t think I’ve seen him have this much fun in a movie…perhaps ever? And he’s a joy to watch. Alan Ritchson, known for the Amazon Prime series Reacher, is a scene-stealer here in the mode of the incredibly buff badass who can also crack a joke. Ritchson is proving himself to be an actor worth paying attention to, who is capable of more than you’d initially give him credit for, and I’m enjoying his evolution. He just about walks away with this entire movie.

We also have Crazy Rich Asians and A Simple Favor breakout Henry Golding, who, too, is having the time of his life here, and also Alex Pettyfer and Hero Fiennes Tiffin, to a somewhat lesser extent, but the point is everyone here is having a good time. I also really enjoyed Eiza Gonzalez and Babs Olusanmokun, who are called upon to bring some emotional authenticity to their roles, and come prepared. There really isn’t a weak link here, and the fast-paced, ultraviolent world of Guy Ritchie needs a cast this game and this willing to have fun with the material. 

Again, some version of this story allegedly actually happened. Did I leave The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare wanting to go down a Google rabbit hole to find out how much was true? Not really, because I know the real version of this story would not be this entertaining to consume. There’s also something cathartic in seeing a bunch of Nazis get annihilated in this almost joyful way. It sags a bit in the middle, but overall this is a fun, fast-paced, and thoroughly enjoyable time at the movies.