With so many spy movies being released every year, each one with more gadgets and technological improvements, how to make another one seem fresh and different? The Man from U.N.C.L.E. found a great answer: to take place during the 1960s.

Sure, there have been spy movies taking place in that decade, but they were usually filmed back then (like the early James Bond movies). But they are eventually updated to modern times. Mission: Impossible, for example, is based on a TV show that aired in the US during the 1960s, but the movies with Tom Cruise are contemporary. The Man from U.N.C.L.E is also based on a TV show from the 60s, but the film’s director, Guy Ritchie, chose to keep it on that decade, which makes it possible to keep the premise of the show: during the Cold War, Napoleon Solo (Henry Cavill), an agent from CIA has to team up with Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer), an agent from KGB, to stop a private criminal organization.

The plot is actually the least important feature of the film. What really makes it interesting is the chemistry among Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer and Alicia Vikander (who plays Gaby Teller, one of the reasons the operation that brought the two agencies together was created). Not only do they work well together, but the (many) jokes also help the pacing and the chemistry.

It’s impossible not to notice elements from the James Bond movies, since Ian Flemming, who wrote the James Bond’s novel, actually helped creating the TV show in the 1960s. Here, Napoleon Solo is the U.S.’s James Bond, charming and effective when needed.

I also enjoyed the soundtrack a lot and I think Guy Ritchie made wise choices with the songs (I saw an interview where he says that the music is one of the most important elements of the movie, in his opinion). It’s also nice to see the fashion, since the clothes and hairdos are typical of that decade.

Finally, it was good seeing Hugh Grant back, even if briefly. So this film is a fun spy movie and a good choice to see at the theater.

Related posts:

Review: Spy (2015) Review: Ant-Man (2015) Review: Irrational Man (2015) Review: Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015)

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