Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre was an entertaining spy action comedy that was well worth the time. I wasn't sure whether it was going to be good or not but I enjoyed it. It was also good to see Guy Ritchie collaborate with Jason Statham again after their first collaboration with Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998). The supporting cast including Aubrey Plaza, Cary Elwes, Bugzy Malone, Josh Hartnett, Peter Ferdinando, and Hugh Grant also did well too.
Super spy Orson Fortune (Jason Statham) is recruited by Nathan Jasmine (Cary Elwes) under official orders by a British Government official (Eddie Marsden) to retrieve an stolen asset known as "The Handle" before it's sold to the highest bidder. Orson's team also includes computer whiz Sarah Fidel (Aubrey Plaza) and operator JJ Davies (Bugzy Malone). The team believes billionaire arms dealer Greg Simmonds (Hugh Grant) will be the first person to get his hands on the asset. In order to gain access to Greg Simmonds, the team cleverly blackmails Simmonds' favorite movie star, Danny Francesco (Josh Hartnett) to come with them as a means to use Francesco as a way to infiltrate Simmonds' inner circle by meeting at a charity event in Cannes. The team is successfully integrate themselves into Greg Simmonds' life as he invites Danny Francesco and Sarah Fidel at his Turkish villa in Antalya where the exchange will take place. Meanwhile Orson Fortune and JJ Davies race against the clock to intercept "the handle" however the efforts are also hampered by rival spy Mike (Peter Ferdinando) who has gone rogue to also get his hands on the asset as well.
Guy Ritchie who is well known for British crime comedies such as Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) and Snatch (2000), the Sherlock Holmes series (2009 and 2011 respectively) and the live movie version on Aladdin (2019) takes on the spy genre and he did really well. Jason Statham does what he does best kicking butt and taking names and is still showing no signs of slowing down in action movies past his 50's. Aubrey Plaza is good comic relief. Singer Bugzy Malone can add another string to his bow as an actor who was a great offsider to Jason Statham. It was good to see former heartthrob Josh Hartnett again who was earmarked as the next big thing after hits such as Halloween H20 and The Faculty (both 1998), Pearl Harbor (2001) and Black Hawk Down (2001) and 40 Days and 40 Nights (2002). Having stepped away from the limelight before slowing returning to Hollywood, Josh Hartnett showed his talent has never gone away though he is older and wiser. It's hard to believe he was actually a candidate to play Superman in the early 2000's during the early stages of a Batman v Superman movie. Hugh Grant was a far cry from his days as the go to British actor for romantic comedies such as Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), Notting Hill (1999), and Bridget Jones' Diary (2001) stole every scene he was in as the billionaire arms dealer Greg Simmonds. I enjoyed seeing him on screen and I hope he can continue his appearances in different roles though his days as the romantic lead is in the past.
It's a shame Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre won't be released in US cinemas but will instead be making its debut on streaming services. The movie could have been a hit in US cinemas as it has certainly done well internationally and has received many mixed to positive reviews.
I was pleasantly surprised at how enjoyable Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre was. It is certainly an entertaining spy action comedy certainly well worth spending over 1 hour and 54 minutes in the cinema today. Guy Ritchie still has his midas touch and Jason Statham does what he does best. I do hope they can collaborate again.
7/10.
Super spy Orson Fortune (Jason Statham) is recruited by Nathan Jasmine (Cary Elwes) under official orders by a British Government official (Eddie Marsden) to retrieve an stolen asset known as "The Handle" before it's sold to the highest bidder. Orson's team also includes computer whiz Sarah Fidel (Aubrey Plaza) and operator JJ Davies (Bugzy Malone). The team believes billionaire arms dealer Greg Simmonds (Hugh Grant) will be the first person to get his hands on the asset. In order to gain access to Greg Simmonds, the team cleverly blackmails Simmonds' favorite movie star, Danny Francesco (Josh Hartnett) to come with them as a means to use Francesco as a way to infiltrate Simmonds' inner circle by meeting at a charity event in Cannes. The team is successfully integrate themselves into Greg Simmonds' life as he invites Danny Francesco and Sarah Fidel at his Turkish villa in Antalya where the exchange will take place. Meanwhile Orson Fortune and JJ Davies race against the clock to intercept "the handle" however the efforts are also hampered by rival spy Mike (Peter Ferdinando) who has gone rogue to also get his hands on the asset as well.
Guy Ritchie who is well known for British crime comedies such as Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) and Snatch (2000), the Sherlock Holmes series (2009 and 2011 respectively) and the live movie version on Aladdin (2019) takes on the spy genre and he did really well. Jason Statham does what he does best kicking butt and taking names and is still showing no signs of slowing down in action movies past his 50's. Aubrey Plaza is good comic relief. Singer Bugzy Malone can add another string to his bow as an actor who was a great offsider to Jason Statham. It was good to see former heartthrob Josh Hartnett again who was earmarked as the next big thing after hits such as Halloween H20 and The Faculty (both 1998), Pearl Harbor (2001) and Black Hawk Down (2001) and 40 Days and 40 Nights (2002). Having stepped away from the limelight before slowing returning to Hollywood, Josh Hartnett showed his talent has never gone away though he is older and wiser. It's hard to believe he was actually a candidate to play Superman in the early 2000's during the early stages of a Batman v Superman movie. Hugh Grant was a far cry from his days as the go to British actor for romantic comedies such as Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), Notting Hill (1999), and Bridget Jones' Diary (2001) stole every scene he was in as the billionaire arms dealer Greg Simmonds. I enjoyed seeing him on screen and I hope he can continue his appearances in different roles though his days as the romantic lead is in the past.
It's a shame Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre won't be released in US cinemas but will instead be making its debut on streaming services. The movie could have been a hit in US cinemas as it has certainly done well internationally and has received many mixed to positive reviews.
I was pleasantly surprised at how enjoyable Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre was. It is certainly an entertaining spy action comedy certainly well worth spending over 1 hour and 54 minutes in the cinema today. Guy Ritchie still has his midas touch and Jason Statham does what he does best. I do hope they can collaborate again.
7/10.