“Remember gentlemen; try to have fun.”

Story: It’s WWII, and England is getting blitzed in the worst possible way. So, to get a leg up on Germany, Winston Churchill decides to not play fair. By having an unorthodox team led by Major Gus March-Phillipps originate the Special Operations Executive, or SOE. Which, considering the no-f’s-given attitude of the group, should probably be called the SOB… Let’s get cracking!

Genre I’d put it in: Saucy Based-On Historical Actioners
Release Date: 2024
Remake, Sequel, Based-On, or Original: A fictional take on WWII’s Operation Postmaster. Based on the book Churchill’s Secret Warriors: The Explosive True Story of the Special Forces Desperadoes of WWII by Damien Lewis.

Gotta say: I remember Henry Cavill being stoked about this project last year. He’d post fun on-set pics to his IG, and I got interested. I love me some devil-may-care WWII shenanigan films, so when the trailer hit? I took notice. Yes, this is a based-on film, but the mix of history and modern cinematic spectacle is just as much riotous fun as I’d hoped it’d be. Warfare harks back to classic WWII stories like The Dirty Dozen and The Devil’s Brigade. But with a modern, 21st century spin that keeps things lively, even when stuff isn’t blowing up. I dig it, Ritchie.

Warfare relies on three subplots that lay out the overall Save England storyline; Gus March-Phillipps and his merry band of havoc-wreakers, Winston Churchill and his council in England, and two English covert operatives in Fernando Po, Spanish Guinea. Director Guy Ritchie has a brilliant way of blending stories, as well as pacing and cutting his films, keeping one eye on the story and another on fun. That’s here in spades; Warfare feels like the capstone of his previous films, mixing action, outrageousness, and excitement beautifully, while giving us glimpses of the reality of WWII that keep viewers grounded while having a blast. Think of this as Ritchie’s riff on Inglorious Basterds, but with a storyline that actually happened. Well, kinda happened. Basically happened. You get the gist.

Cavill is having an absolute blast here; the trailer is just a taste of the fun he’s having playing March-Phillipps. I thought the way the character wore his stolen Nazi cap was an affectation played up for the film, but apparently the man did love to tip his hat. As Swede Anders Lassen, Reacher‘s Alan Ritchson was my personal fave of the Ministry; what can I say, I love a guy with a bow and arrow, especially one who reuses his stash. Plus, the bull-with-a-ballerina’s-grace way of fighting Lassen has was super fun to watch.

I didn’t even recognize Henry Golding as second-in-command/gleeful “arsonist” Freddy Alvarez, which shows you I’d suck at spycraft. Toss a beard and a cap on somebody? I’m in the dark. Again, Ritchie uses his vast experience to bring together an ensemble that blends together so naturally I was completely sucked in every moment. Special shout-out to Danny Sapani as Kambili “Billy” Kalu, an Eton-educated man whose small but powerful kingdom in Guinea aids the Ministry. Sapani brings a quiet power to Kalu, a character who balances pride of his homeland with a wish for more acceptance from the UK. It’s a powerful performance.

The cinematography here has a feel similar to WWII films from the 1960s and 70s. There’s a hazy Golden Hour look during the daytime Spanish Guinea and on-ship scenes, as well as a Cinemascope-esque grandiosity to every shot. It’s simply a lovely film to look at. Plus, there’s Cavill’s magnificent hair, Babs Olusanmokun’s gorgeous cheekbones, and Eiza González’s brain-meltingly gorgeous costumes. Seriously, hair and makeup? Bravo, y’all. It’s all tied together in a lavish costume party climax that had me wishing I could have been there. Okay, maybe been at another 1940s costume party like it. The wartime opulence onscreen had me drooling.

The choreography is well done, though there are moments where the action feels a bit too choppy, with too many cuts that take away from the brutality. Which is strange, as this is an R-rated joint. There’s a distinct lack of red stuff for the vast majority of the film, which is also something that many classic WWII stories share, but as this is a Guy Ritchie film? I was kinda hoping for a touch more. I don’t need buckets, but an extra soupçon here and there would have been welcome.

Warfare is a perfect weekend movie, one where you should grab all the snax and just kick back and enjoy. It’s got a wonderful mid-century epic feel, while keeping the vibe of the story light and fun. So grab your own ministry and go enjoy.

#Protip: Ritchie is known for having fun while being professional. Henry Cavill is the same. Get those two together with a top-notch cast and crew – boom. How to have a blast while working 101!