Let’s step back into world history for a movie that is based on true events. From 1939 to 1945, the Second World War (also known as World War II or WWII) was waged. It was a time of great upheaval and bravery which resulted in millions of deaths – up to 85 million people sadly died. A devastating conflict, numerous tales of valour and sacrifice surfaced from this violent fight were woven throughout this horrific war. Secret agent exploits are among the stories that surfaced. In order to finish the war, special soldiers and spies bravely went beyond enemy lines. Numerous fictional figures, such as the well-known spy Bond, James Bond, or, if you’d rather, 007, were influenced by these real-life heroes. Ian Fleming, who worked in British Naval Intelligence throughout the war, created James Bond using inspiration from the real-life spies he encountered during the war. Bond personifies the craftiness, ingenuity, and charisma of the resourcefulness and charm of the wartime spies Fleming encountered. The latest film to draw from this rich period of history is The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, based on the book Churchill’s Secret Warriors: The Explosive True Story of the Special Forces Desperadoes of WWII by Damien Lewis. Directed by Guy Ritchie, this action-comedy brings to life the exploits of a top-secret WWII special forces unit, blending historical events with Ritchie’s signature style.
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is set in 1941, the early years of World War II, and follows a motley crew of rogue and maverick soldiers on an unofficial, unsanctioned, deniable mission to disrupt the Nazi U-boat program. Starring Henry Cavill, Alan Ritchson, Alex Pettyfer, Eiza González, Babs Olusanmokun and Freddie Fox.
The film opens with Winston Churchill (Rory Kinnear) and British military intelligence, including Ian Fleming (Freddie Fox), devising a plan to form a special ops force for Operation Postmaster (this was a real life operation). This unit is tasked with using unconventional and “ungentlemanly” tactics to take out the use of enemy submarines.
This team of soldiers is led by Gus March-Phillipps (Henry Cavill), a charismatic and rebellious leader who assembles a diverse group of fighters, including Freddy “Frogman” Alvarez (Henry Golding) and Anders Lassen (Alan Ritchson). Their mission takes them to Spanish island of Fernando Po, now known as Bioko, off West Africa in the Gulf of Guinea, where they must sabotage a ship packed with supplies for German U-boats. The film combines elements of action, comedy, and historical drama, creating a thrilling and entertaining experience.
Overall, I loved watching The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. It is fun to watch, based on true events and was inspiration for the greatest fictional spy of all, 007 James Bond.
The film centres around the true story, although fictionalised and exaggerated somewhat for entertainment, of a secret British operation in WWII on the Spanish island of Fernando Po by a crew of secret soldiers, the first real spies. Exploring themes of heroism, loyalty, and the unconventional tactics used during wartime, the film delves into the idea that sometimes, breaking the rules is necessary to achieve victory.
It is a riveting fictionalised wartime action-comedy with some very engaging characters from the very charismatic and daring Gus March-Phillipps – one of the main inspirations for Ian Felming’s James Bond character (played Henty Cavill) to the happy, yet violent Anders Lassen (played by Alan Ritchson) to the calm and collected Marjorie Stewart (played by Eiza González). It’s thrilling action-packed plot which has a blend of historical and fictional elements offers a fresh take on wartime heroism. A must-watch for fans of action, comedy, and historical drama.
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is a fun wartime action film with humour and great characters that is a joy to watch.
Rated 15 and has a running time of approx. 2 hours.
Rating: 5/5
Available to watch on Amazon Prime and other streaming services.