Watch The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, directed by Guy Ritchie, is a high-octane, action-packed war film that takes a loose and stylized approach to a little-known but crucial part of World War II history. The movie is a fictionalized account of Operation Postmaster, a top-secret mission conceived by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Ian Fleming. It is a story of a small, unconventional, and highly lethal group of soldiers who are tasked with a mission so audacious and dangerous it could change the course of the war.

The film introduces us to Gus March-Phillipps (Henry Cavill), a charismatic and daring rogue who has been given the impossible task of assembling a team for this mission. He's not looking for soldiers who follow the rules; he's looking for those who break them. His team is a motley crew of misfits and specialists, including Anders Lassen (Alan Ritchson), a brutal and single-minded demolitions expert, and Geoffrey Appleyard (Alex Pettyfer), a resourceful and charming saboteur. Their mission is to infiltrate the German-occupied island of Fernando Po off the coast of West Africa and sink three Nazi supply ships—a mission that would be an instrumental first step in turning the tide of the war.

The movie embraces the tone of a classic caper film, blending thrilling action sequences with witty dialogue and a sense of irreverent fun. The team operates outside the traditional rules of warfare, using their cunning, unconventional tactics, and a lot of sheer audacity to outsmart their German adversaries. The film’s action is slick and stylish, with Ritchie’s signature fast-paced editing and dynamic camera work bringing the heists and battles to life.

Beyond the action, the film also delves into the complex personalities of the men. Cavill's Gus March-Phillipps is a compelling leader, a man who is both a military genius and a charming scoundrel. Ritchson's Anders Lassen is a force of nature, a man of few words but incredible power. The cast’s chemistry is a highlight of the film, as they bicker and banter their way through one impossible situation after another.

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is a film that takes a great deal of creative license with its source material, but it does so in service of creating a wildly entertaining adventure. It’s a movie that celebrates the unsung heroes and the mavericks of the war, the men who fought not with formal strategy but with grit, determination, and a healthy dose of ungentlemanly conduct.

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is a 2024 action movie with a runtime of 2 hours. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.8 and a MetaScore of 55.