In addition to being one of the most stylistically distinctive filmmakers of his generation,Guy Ritchiehas also become one of the most prolific. Although there was some concern that he had been overexposed after a few blockbuster films likeThe Man From U.N.C.L.E.andKing Arthur: Legend of the Swordfailed to become box office successes, Ritchie experienced a career resurgence when he returned to making the smart, snappy British crime thrillers that kicked off his career. While Ritchie has grown prominent enough that he can attract A-list stars to his projects, his work still retains the same anarchic, absurdist sensibilities that madeSnatchandLock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrelssuch beloved cult classics. Despite being held from release due to distribution issues,Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerreis a highly entertaining throwback to classic spy films that signified the strength of Ritchie’s working relationship withJason Statham.
What Is ‘Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre’ About?
Statham stars inOperation Fortune: Ruse de Guerreas the British secret agent Orson Fortune,who is tasked with recovering a mysterious deviceknown as “The Handle” by the espionage expert Nathan Jasmine (Cary Elwes), who was hired by the British government to prevent any collateral damage. After being teamed with the sniper J.J. Davies (Bugzy Malone) and the tech expert Sarah Fidel (Aubrey Plaza), Orson must track down the eccentric billionaire Greg Simmonds (Hugh Grant), who plans to sell “The Handle” to the highest bidder. In order to infiltrate Simmonds’ circle, Orson decides to blackmail the Hollywood A-lister Danny Francesco (Josh Hartnett) into joining the team. Since Danny is Simmonds’ favorite actor, the scheme is initially successful; however, Orson and his team are forced to face off with rival agents and international gangsters to prevent the device from falling into the wrong hands.
This Bizarre, Trippy Misfire Was The Low Point of Jason Statham and Guy Ritchie’s Collaboration
Surrealism doesn’t always work.
Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerreis a perfect fit for Ritchie’s style, as the complex nature of the schemes, double crosses, and criminal intrigue allow him to utilize the quickly cut, monologue-heavy montages that he helped to originate. Although the action is just as polished as one would expect from someone who has been working in the genre for over two decades,Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerreisrefreshingly centered on old-fashioned spycraft,as much of the film is centered on various heists that Orson and his team have to pull to avoid being suspected. However, it’s also a film that has no shortage of comedy, particularly in how Danny is forced to become a real hero after playing action stars in various films. Additionally, the comic interplay between Elwes, Statham, and Plaza makes any of the espionage scenes more entertaining, as Ritchie knows how to write clever dialogue to suit their personalities.
‘Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre’ Is Guy Ritchie at His Most Playful
Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerrebenefits from being very self-aware, as Hartnett’s performance hinges on his being able to make fun of his own reputation of being a washed-up former A-lister. Although Grant has been on an exceptional run of playing idiosyncratic villains, Simmonds is one of his most unique characters because of how ethically malleable he is; Simmonds’ greatest crime is that he simply doesn’t care where his money goes, which irritatessomeone as morally upstandingas Orson. Additionally, Plaza adds a different energy that has not previously been seen in Ritchie’s films, as Sarah’s technical wizardry allows the film to incorporate various gadgets and surveillance techniques. Given how eccentric some of the other performances are, Statham is perfectly suited to play the dry, no-nonsense hero who is tasked with cleaning up the mess.
Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerredoesn’t attempt to be anything but a good time, even if there are a few clever plot twists that make the final act more interesting. Given how self-serious many spy films are, it is nice to see something that is deftly aware of how inherently silly the genre can be, whilst never turning into an outright farce. The only major disappointment aboutOperation Fortune: Ruse de Guerreis that it did not perform well enough to generate interest in a sequel;given the fun ending stinger, it’s unfortunate that Statham, Plaza, and Elwes weren’t able to reunite for another rip-roaring adventure.
Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre
