The Union review-Berry and Wahlberg Unite in Action-Packed Netflix Thriller

The union review like a good covert operation team, everyone involved in the latest in a long line of expensive yet generally forgettable Netflix action flicks is clear on the mission. They know their role, and what they’re being paid for. Mark Wahlberg, playing to type as a downhome blue-collar guy, enters the movie shirtless. Halle Berry, as a veteran intelligence agent, kicks ass while wearing a Catwoman-esque all-leather uniform. JK Simmons, as the head of a covert group of working-class secret agents (hence, the Union), conveys no-nonsense avuncular authority as only JK Simmons can. And Julian Farino, director of such shows as Giri/Haji and Entourage, wrings each of the many combat scenes for snappy but never stressful suspense.

The illusory motive, apart from a vague sense of justice, is never entirely clear. Nothing in Union is subtle, including the hope that Wahlberg and Barry’s star power will paper over a setup that feels dubious even by silly Caper standards. Berry’s Roxanne is a longtime blue-collar worker for a secret federal agency (maybe?) who flies under the radar, flaunts her impeccable performance and despises the CIA for its elitism.

The film opens with the Union in crisis, as a mission to extract a CIA defector in Trieste goes awry

killing several agents, including Roxanne’s close associate Nick Faraday (Mike Coulter). For reasons immediately stated, “none” are required to complete the mission. Enter Roxanne’s high school sweetheart Mike Wahlberg.

Mike has what Roxanne sarcastically calls a “small” life in the same old New Jersey hometown. He lives with his mother (Lorraine Bracco), is close with his childhood friends, works in construction. And there’s the recurring theme of her recent fling with her seventh-grade English teacher. The script, by Joe Barton and David Guggenheim, gives proper structure to Roxanne and Mike’s bond, but Union benefits greatly from its leads. Wahlberg and Barry.

Friends of more than 30 years (with some early ’90s photos in the credits to back it up) have well-worn, hot-from-the-jump chemistry, and the conviction that two people still talk. Despite not being able to rib each other – and charm – for 25 years. Of course he accepts to be drugged and taken to London, then take part in a potentially deadly mission, if it means staying with him.

Naturally, he’s won over by the ethos of the union: the little guys sticking it out with the big-money villains (cartoonish Iranian terrorists, North Korean operatives, Russian spies, Londoners). Or, as Simmons director Brennan puts it: “Street smarts over book smarts. Blue collar, not blue blood. The people who build our cities, keep the production lines humming, that’s who we are. We get dirty.” ‘Cause people like us are expected to shit, ’cause nobody ever gave us nothing a day in our lives.

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The ludicrously described mission is to steal government intelligence on anyone who has served a Western allied country, placed in the comical Deal or No Deal briefcase, thereby continuing to protect the public. To be kept. The unusual class politics give the film more than a twist. That it still works is largely down to Simmons and Wahlberg, both of whom are adept at winning over the general public, and of course Barry as a highly capable fighter straining to overcome his emotional frailties. are

For the majority of its 1 hour, 47 minute runtime, The Union maintains a pleasant rhythm of information, missions, combat and intrigue, with escalating plot twists and car chases in Croatia. Which seems to last forever. The mood is light, the stunts are impressive and mercifully, the film doesn’t look as cheap or slow as its Netflix brethren like The Man from Toronto or Lift.

The two stars often become more friends than romantic interests. Spoiler alert: Union is in the pessimistic twisters club of refusing to kiss the audience for no discernible reason, other than maybe being out for a sequel. For all the petrol, broken glass and stunt work on The Union , I can’t confidently say it has enough juice to make up for it, but it at least exceeds expectations.