THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.

GRADE: A -
Starring Armie hammer, Henry Cavill, Alicia Vikander and Hugh Grant
Directed by Guy Ritchie
Rated PG-13

The idea of a big screen version of The Man From U.N.C.L.E. has been floating around Hollywood for well over a decade now, and at first glance it seems a bit late for this particular adaptation as we've long since moved past 1960's nostalgia and are actually just finishing up the 80's and moving to the 90's. But ultra chic 60's style never goes completely out of fashion, and it turns out to be an inspired match to the frenetic yet chic visually sensibilities of director Guy Ritchie.

The story begins at the height of the cold war, with suave American agent Napoleon Solo (Cavill) in East berlin,  rescuing Gaby Teller (Alicia Vikander), the beautiful daughter of a kidnapped German scientist. Complicating matters is a Russian agent, Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer), Solo's equal in skill, intelligence, resourcefulness and manly prettiness. Soon, Solo and Kuryakin are assigned by their respective governments to work together with Gaby to infiltrate a criminal organization, and the expected rivalries and romantic complications ensue.

As with the majority of Hollywood spy flicks, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. is filled with enough complicated plot twists to distract you from just how thin the story really is.  If pressed to explain the plot, you probably couldn't, and the movie doesn't always have the strongest sense of flow. But it does have lots of exciting action set pieces, laugh out loud comedy, and a dazzling sense of style. Director Ritchie actually tones down a bit of his more indulgent tendencies, but is clearly having the time of his life with the hip style of the film, creating some dazzling and inventive moments, including what we think is likely to be the funniest scene of year.

Perhaps the greatest asset of the film is the

performances of the two leads, who are keenly aware that they need to prove they are more than a cape and a mask and don't just rise to the challenge but embrace it the opportunity with zeal and gusto. Cavill and Hammer have excellent chemistry, with Cavill doing his best Robert Vaughn voice in a delightfully campy performance that shows a perfect sense of comic timing, and Hammer potentially reviving a flagging career by not only finally getting a lead role that allows him to show some versatility along with his screen presence, but really hitting it out of the park and making it the most enjoyable star turn of the summer. With the two of them Ritchie has created a buddy duo slightly different from his squabbling, codependent Holmes and Watson, but one nearly as entertaining. It would be a big mistake to write off Cavill and Hammer as mere sex symbols. They show serious comic talent here. And Alicia Vikander gives a delightful turn, coming on the heals of her breakout role in Ex Machina, getting the most out of her Audrey Hepburn as a tomboy appeal, and if this performs at the box office we can expect to see more of her (not that we didn't see just about all of her in the afforementioned film.). Hugh Grant also adds a great deal of presence in his supporting turn as Waverley, Solo's boss.

This has been a big year for spy flicks, and we still have two more potential greats to come, but with The Man From U.N.C.L.E, Ritchie has created a stylish comic triumph that may not feel quite as utterly inspired as Kingman did at it's best moments, but makes up for it by being a lot less immature and self consciously in your face.