The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare

2024 Lionsgate

Rated: R

Length: 2 hrs

Action ~ Comedy ~ War ~ History ~ True Story

Starring: Henry Cavill, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Henry Golding, Alan Ritchson, Alex Pettyfer, Babs Olusanmokun and Eiza González.

NO RULES. NO REGRETS. JUST VICTORY

Henry Cavill stars as Major Gus March-Phillips who is brought out of Military Prison by Brigadier Colin Gubbins “M” and Ian Fleming late 1941 in England during World War II. He is tasked with heading Operation Postmaster, a last resort mission dreamt up by Winston Churchill, “M” and Ian. An unsanctioned secret operation to go to the Spanish island of Fernando Po in Africa, where the Nazi’s are resupplying their U-boats that are decimating the Royal Navy fleet, and destroy the resupply ships.

Accompanied by Irishman Henry Hayes(Hero Fiennes Tiffin), Freddy “The Buzz” “Frogman” Alvarez(Henry Golding), and “The Danish Hammer” Anders Lassen(Alan Ritchson), they sail around the coast of Africa to La Palma Canary Islands where they storm a Nazi Garrison and extract Geoffrey Appleyard(Alex Pettyfer). They then continue on the Swedish fishing Trawler Maid Of Honor to the Spanish port of Fernando Po to destroy the Nazi resupply ships. A suicide mission fraught with perils and unexpected twists and turns. They sail between the British Navy ships on one side who will incarcerate them and the Nazi U-boats on the other that will kill them.

This is based on the true story of the first Black Ops before there was such a thing. The beginnings of Agencies like the Navy Seals, CIA and other world agencies that were spawned to do the dirty work under the radar. Gus March-Phillips was the inspiration for James Bond in Ian Flemings novels. Sir Christopher Lee who starred in and was a consultant on numerous James Bond movies, was a member of The Ministry Of Gentlemanly Warfare in it’s early days. He was also second cousin to Ian Fleming.

Cavill delivers his most charismatic performance since The Man from U.N.C.L.E., channeling that mustached grit with Guy Ritchie flair, while his co-stars, like a sharp-shooting Eiza González and the ever-reliable Alan Ritchson, match his energy beat for beat. Christopher Lee’s nod to real history adds gravitas, reminding us these men and women changed the course of history.

A thrilling blend of fact, legend, and adrenaline-fueled storytelling, this is one of the best True Story war films of recent years. These men and women helped change the course of history. It’s a fantastic story well told and portrayed by all involved in this movie. I love the True Story Movies and I love this one.

A great adventure!

Well done and highly recommended!

Two Thumbs Up

Alex Pettyfer, Alan Ritchson, Henry Cavill, Hero Fiennes Tiffin and Henry Goldin in THE MINISTRY OF UNGENTLEMANLY WARFARE.
Photo Credit: Dan Smith for Lionsgate.
Courtesy of Lionsgate.

Playdate

2025 Amazon MGM Studios

Rated: PG-13

Length: 1 hr 33min

Action ~ Comedy

Directed by: Luke Greenfield

Starring: Kevin James, Alan Ritchson, Sarah Chalke, Alan Tudyk, Hiro Kanagawa, Stephen Root, and Isla Fisher.

Playtime just got real.

Brian Jennings (Kevin James), a recently laid-off accountant, is struggling to adjust to stay-at-home dad life while his wife Emily (Sarah Chalke) is picking up double shifts at work. Hoping to help his stepson Lucas (Benjamin Pajak) make new friends, Brian sets up a weekend playdate with another local dad, Jeff Eamon (Alan Ritchson), whose confident and sometimes wild personality immediately stands out. Jeff’s son CJ (Banks Pierce) quickly bonds with Lucas, and things start off innocently, though Jeff drops hints about his unusual, action-packed past as a soldier and security guard.

The day starts out at Buckee Cheese, a Pizza Arcade eerily similar to the real life Chuck E. Cheese, but takes a bizarre turn when a group of armed mercenaries shows up. Jeff is forced into action while trying to remain inconspicuous as he tries to outwit them in the arcade without Brian knowing. Things quickly escalate into all out pandemonium as they leave and race off into Minivan adventures that were never even thought of when they designed it for busy Soccer Mom’s. Along the way we learn a lot more than we wanted about Jeff and Brian, as they learn about each other, bond, outwit and outrun a never ending sea of bad guys through the middle of Suburbia.

When the movie first starts out you feel for the guys and their predicaments. They are completely relatable trying to be good Dads and taking care of their kids. Then things start to get real chaotic as the action and the plot takes some very serious left hand turns. The plot starts to become a little like a bad B Sci-Fi movie, but by then we are so sucked into the action and bonding by Brian and Jeff that we just don’t care. And The Mama Mafia led by Isla Fisher was hilarious. The soundtrack is as big an actor in this movie as Kevin James and Alan Ritchson. I still can’t get The Rhythm of the Night by Corona out of my head.

So, I know, the big question is, “Should I watch it?” My answer to that is a definitive yes with a caveat or two….It is complete unadulterated entertainment, not meant to be dissected nor thought out. Just enjoy the ride!

Turn off the lights and devices,

Make some popcorn,

Grab a beverage,

and Stream This Movie

on PRIME!

Brian (Kevin James) and Jeff (Alan Ritchson) in PLAYDATE.
Photo Credit: David Bukach

Brian (Kevin James) and Lucas (Benjamin Pajak) in PLAYDATE
Photo: Courtesy of Prime
© AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC

Leslie (Isla Fisher) in PLAYDATE.
Photo: Courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios.
© AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC

New Movie Playdate Debuts on Prime Wednesday November 12, 2025

FROM AMAZON MGM STUDIOS:

When recently unemployed accountant Brian (Kevin James) agrees to a playdate with charismatic stay-at-home dad Jeff (Alan Ritchson) and their sons, he expects an easy afternoon of small talk and football tossing. Instead, he’s thrust into a chaotic scramble to stay alive as they are pursued by a ruthless team of mercenaries. Brian stumbles through one ridiculous obstacle after another, his zero tactical skills a stark contrast to Jeff’s oddly prepared demeanor.

Director Luke Greenfield (Let’s Be Cops, The Girl Next Door) hilariously collides suburban dad life with high-stakes thrills, transforming an ordinary afternoon into an absurd action-packed adventure where minivan mayhem meets professional hitmen.

Starring: Alan Ritchson, Kevin James, Sarah Chalke, Alan Tudyk, Benjamin Pajak, Banks Pierce, Hiro Kanagawa with Stephen Root and Isla Fisher.