A One Mann’s Movies review of “The Union” (2024).
It was time for me to catch up on this Netflix release from the back end of last year. But not even Marky Mark, Catwoman and Santa Clause can save this tired thriller from being… well…. tiresome.
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
“The Union” Plot Summary:
Mike McKenna (Mark Wahlberg) is an everyman blue-collar construction worker in New Jersey when he is approached by his ex-school sweetheart Roxanne (Halle Berry). But before he can even get to first-base again, their romantic interlude takes a sharp left when she drugs him and he wakes up in London.
Certification:
UK: 12; US: PG-13. (From the BBFC web site: “Sex references, language, threat, violence”. )
Talent:
Starring: Mark Wahberg, Halle Berry, J.K. Simmons, Mike Colter, Alice Lee, Jessica De Gouw, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje.
Directed by: Julian Farino.
Written by: Joe Barton & David Guggenheim. (From a story by David Guggenheim.)
Running Time: 1h 47m.
“The Union” Summary:
Positives:
- A rooftop chase sequence is quite entertaining.
Negatives:
- A tired “secret organisation” formulaic movie.
- Serious lack of romantic chemistry between the two leads: they never even kiss.
Review of “The Union”:
So tired I yawned several times.
Oh my. Yet another tired Netflix ‘thriller’ about a secret government organisation that needs to recruit a nobody because they’ve been ‘compromised’. We’ve been in this sort of situation so many times it is just plain tiresome. The plot here makes no sense at all. If you were needing to hire a “nobody” outside the organisation, why would you go for a nobody with no inate spy skills whatsoever? Just because he’s your childhood sweetheart? Surely you would hire an ex Mossad/KGB/MI6 agent or something w? Someone who is outside of your organisation but at least has the required skills. It makes zero sense!
Tired set pieces.
Once we are into the plot even the action set pieces seem tired and derivative. At least in “Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre“, the formula was tired but some of the action (e.g. the Lisbon tram scenes) were fresh and fun. Here we get a bunch of uninspiring car/bike chases that never manage to raise any levels of adrenaline.
Even the “twist”, when it came, exposing the villain of the piece, was uninspired and yawn-worthy.
The only time it gets vaguely interesting is during some rooftop chase moments when Marky Mark is cornered on a plank between buildings. Although we’ve seen it before and better, e.g. in the Bourne films, it is at least an “OK” sequence.
A lack of romantic chemistry.
I’m afraid I never felt any sort of romantic chemistry between Wahlberg and Berry. Even when they are face-to-face in an airplane hold I never felt they were going to do more than play a couple of hands of Canasta together. During the whole film, they don’t even kiss… not once. I don’t doubt that they are good friends offscreen, but I presume not friends with benefits. (They have apparently known each other for 30 years but, regardless of the mocked up pictures in the titles, they never went to high-school together).
Simmons needs to find a new agent.
J.K. Simmons, the Oscar winner (for “Whiplash“), really needs to find better work than this. Although he’s had a good role in “Juror #2” his roles in this and “Red One” are little more than pension-topper-uppers and do nothing for his credibility as a top actor.
No, I’m sorry, but “The Parent Trap” has the rights to that song.
The team also show a lack of sense in playing “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” by Natalie Cole in a wedding scene at the end of the film. Everyone knows this from the wedding scene of “The Parent Trap” (or possibly “While You Were Sleeping”). Don’t try to hitch your wagon to a much better film!
Summary Thoughts on “The Union”
Nope. This one just plain didn’t work for me.
Where to Watch it (Powered by Justwatch)
Trailer for “The Union”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vea9SdnRMyg.
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