"The Man From U.N.C.L.E." (movie critique)

THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.
movie poster

The Friday Movie Mavens and The Travelling Toe decided to take a trip back to the past and go see the new reincarnation of "The Man From U.N. C.L.E.".  The movie is base on the 60's television show of the same name starring Robert Vaughn and David McCallum - yes
Dear Readers the same actor who plays Ducky in the popular TV series NCIS!

TV Series

Robert Vaughn and David McCallum

The story takes place in 1963 during the height of the Cold War between the Eastern Block and the Western powers.  Napoleon Solo (Henry Cavill) is a former art thief turned CIA operative whose travels incognito to East Berlin.  His mission is to help a female auto mechanic, Gaby Teller (Alicia Vikander), escape to the West. The reason she is such a valuable asset is that her father, a nuclear scientist and  former Nazi, had escaped to America during the chaos of the ending of WW II. He had been helping the Americans with their nuclear and space programs.  But he has now suddenly gone missing and the CIA thinks that Gabby can help find him. As Solo and Gabby are making their escape from East Berlin, they are being pursued by an Soviet KGB agent Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer). The escape plan is fun to watch and very inventive.

Henry Cavill

Armie Hammer

Alicia Vikander

It appears that Dr.Teller is being forced to work on a nuclear program by an Italian crime boss and his wife. When this information comes to light, the CIA and the KGB operatives have to work together to save Dr. Teller, if possible, and to take out the bad guys. They come together under the U.N.C.L.E.umbrella lead by Alexander Waverly, (played by a handsome, mature Hugh Grant) who is head of the new agency. Gabby also plays a big role in the plot but who is she really?  Well, Dear Readers,The Travelling Toe will not spoil the fun as you will just have to see how it ends for yourself!

Hugh Grant

The interplay between the 3 leads is really funny and enjoyable with one getting the upper hand only to lose it the next minute.  The style of clothes, cars, music, hair styles and even that dramatic cat-eye makeup was fun for us Golden Girls to see. We remember those times too well.

Italy served as a dramatic backdrop for much of the story.  Why is that songs sung in Italian sound so much more romantic than those sung in English?  Hmmmmm....not sure but might have to take a fact finding trip to Italy to find out first hand.

Guy Ritchie was the director of this movie and he did a good job of the multi-scene montage that the TV series used.

Guy Ritchie

The Travelling Toe gives this movie 1 big toe up with a heavy coat of glitter nail polish.




Disclaimer:  The Travelling Toe is not a professional critic and any opinions expressed are for entertainment purposes only.