KSL Movie Show review: ‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’ is pure gung-ho

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SALT LAKE CITY — So I was having a conversation with a couple of critic friends the day after we all saw this movie and joking asked, “By chance did anyone count how many Nazis died in this film?” My suggestion was “all of them.” But my colleague quickly added, “The answer is always never enough.”

Then we discussed how the actual number didn’t matter as much as how they were dispatched. It was almost laughable that a vast majority of them went down with a single shot or one sling of a bow and arrow. It was so ridiculous, that I compared it to the laying down of Imperial Stormtroopers like dominos in most of the Star Wars movies.

I bring this up, so you’ll have an idea what kind of action/adventure you’re about to witness. It’s pure gung-ho, Guy Ritchie fare where the good guys are cool, witty, sarcastic, street toughs that question authority and improvise on the fly.

Based on historical events with a large helping of creative license, it’s early in World War II. The U.S. has been hesitant to enter the European theatre. Great Britain is getting pummeled and German U-boats dominate the waters of the North Atlantic.

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However, the British learn of a German supply depot off the West coast of Africa, a Spanish island called Fernando Po, where cargo ships are loaded with supplies for the U-Boat submarines, specifically carbon dioxide filters that clean the air for sailors underwater. Without them, the fleet would be paralyzed.

So this unsanctioned, unauthorized and every other “un” you can think of secret mission codenamed Operation Postmaster, features a crew of unsavory characters sailing on a Norwegian fishing boat, with orders to blow up the latest cargo ship before it can leave the harbor.

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This “dirty half-dozen” crew is led by Major Gus March-Phillips (Henry Cavill), Anders Lassen (Alan Ritchson, Geoffrey Appleyard (Alex Pettyfer), Henry Hayes (Hero Fiennes Tiffin) and Freddy Alvarez (Henry Golding) – all with special skills – along with a support team already in place at Fernando Po.

Director Guy Ritchie has been making a comfortable living coming up with a series of fun tough-guy movies. They go back to my personal favorite, “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” from the late 90’s.

“The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” is right in line with his other over-the-top action movies. At least those that insist on you having a good time at some bad guys’ expense. In this case they’re mostly Nazis who barely have enough time to button up their uniforms before their quick, dramatic Auf Wiedersehens.

THE MINISTRY OF UNGENTLEMANLY WARFARE (B) Rated R for strong violence throughout and some language. Starring Henry Cavill, Alan Ritchson, Alex Pettyfer, Eiza Gonzalez, Babs Olusanmokun, Cary Elwes and Rory Kinnear. Directed by Guy Ritchie (“The Gentlemen” “Sherlock Holmes”) – filmed in Antalya, Turkey. Running time: 120 minutes.

The KSL Movie Show with Andy Farnsworth and Steve Salles airs Fridays on KSL NewsRadio from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Follow the show on Facebook, and join The KSL Movie Show Club for exclusive perks by texting MOVIE to 57500.