Welcome to an alternate history Cold War era thriller, complete with James Bond-like espionage, secret nukes, and a dynamic duo composed of polar opposites; this is the 2015 remake of the 1960’s television show The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Iconic characters are recast into faces this generation knows and loves: Henry Cavill plays the dashing Napoleon Solo and Armie Hammer is Cavill’s partner in (unconventional) justice, Illya Kuryakin. While those who saw the movie were pleasantly surprised, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. was grossly underrated.

Beginning in Soviet controlled East Germany, the story introduces all the characters right off the bat. We meet Cavill, another main character named Gabbi (Alicia Vikander), and we are given a glimpse of the elusive KGB agent played by Hammer. As the story progresses, we see each of these characters grow; some grow closer and some grow apart as supporting characters are thrown in. Hidden agendas are hinted at and ultimately revealed later on, but it is safe to say that no one’s plans are quite what they seem.

The action starts off early on, probably within the first ten minutes. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. has car chases and crazy battles galore, and it is sure to appeal to any James Bond fan. The stunts and graphics are also incredible, though how true the movie is to ‘60’s technology is up for debate. If you like being on the edge of your seat, this movie is definitely for you!

The assortment of different personalities represented in the movie is one of the things that impressed me. No character is a copy of another, which I feel is a common problem in the movie industry these days. While some of the relationships seem rushed, it is understandable considering the time limit most people give for a movie. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is just under two hours long. I do think that the director did a wonderful job getting all the bases covered in such a short amount of time. However, like any movie, there are plot holes. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. did a pretty good job disguising them, but sometimes you have to wonder how a character can get from point A to point B in a few minutes if the destinations are miles apart. That is a common problem and does not really detract from the story. In fact, it adds a bit of comical relief!

One major downfall of remakes is the dialogue. Sometimes it fits and sometimes it is as far from what the character would say as China (unless they’re in China, in which case this would not apply). The Man from U.N.C.L.E., while completely cheesy in some spots, does a good job summing up the characters’ motives and personalities through dialogue. I could not even count how many witty comebacks there were, and most of them belonged to Cavill’s character, Napoleon. Like dynamite, the comebacks were hidden in a small package but were always crucial to the storyline.

Overall, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is a wonderful action-comedy. Underneath that, there isn’t much else. The movie is funny and witty even with distance being nonexistent. The characters are well developed and the ending was left open for a sequel, meaning that perhaps we will be brought back to alternate-history 1960’s. If that does happen, I sure hope that the sequel gets more attention than the original, although it is not likely. So, if you have time to kill or need a laugh, check out this movie! It surely won’t disappoint.