As his throwback gangster film The Gentlemen and hardboiled heist thriller Wrath of Man have indicated, Guy Ritchie has entered a new era in the 2020's. After spending a decade making blockbusters and collecting the massive paydays that come with them, Ritchie is currently doing his version of retreating to the beach to drink pina coladas all day by dedicating all of his time to making mid-budget movies that pique his interest. The next stop on his working retirement tour is Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre-a spy comedy that offers a glimpse at what The Man from U.N.C.L.E. might've looked like if Ritchie had gotten full creative control.
If someone who was familiar with his work was asked to imagine what an R-rated Guy Ritchie espionage romp would be like, odds are Operation Fortune would be it. The characters are eccentric. The action is stylish and clearly shot. The dialogue is riddled with snarky one-liners galore. The energy level is notably high. As tends to be the case with Ritchie, this strict adherence to a formula is irrelevant since the execution of it is so sharp.
Richie's most underrated skill as a filmmaker is having a great feel for what actors will excel in his films. Operation Fortune required a group of actors who were nimble and playful enough to match the goofy tone yet cool enough to feel like they belonged in a world full of spies, mercenaries and arms dealers. Once again, Ritchie's casting instincts didn't let him down.
Jason Statham is in reliably fine form as the cranky, fine wine-loving reluctant superspy Orson Fortune, Hugh Grant brings the scenery-chewing sleaze as a mysterious billionaire arms dealer that Fortune is hired to bring down and Aubrey Plaza earns plenty of laughs as Fortune's newly hired tech expert that almost immediately develops a combative rapport with the spy. Supporting players Bugzy Malone as the team's sharpshooter/additional muscle, Josh Hartnett as the movie star that's blackmailed into helping the team get close to Grant's character and Cary Elwes as Fortune's smug boss get their moments to shine as well-particularly in the latter stages when the stakes get elevated, and the jokes/action start really humming. Based on how effortlessly the ensemble fit into a universe driven by sarcasm, gravitas and vibrant camaraderie, it wouldn't be surprising at all to see everyone from this cast join Statham in Ritchie's company of frequent collaborators.
Could Operation Fortune have benefitted from Ritchie writing more clever banter and coming up with a better incognito weapon for the team to chase after than a massive piece of programmable AI? Sure. Were these things I was really thinking about during the movie? Not at all. Operation Fortune is designed to just be an easygoing good time at the movies, and it delivers just that. Score another one for Pina Colada at the Beach-era Guy Ritchie.
Grade: B
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