Based on a successful TV show dating back to the 60s, this new Guy Ritchie movie managed to surprise everyone. Part James Bond (think Sean Connery, NOT Daniel Craig), part Mission Impossible (the old TV show, not the movies), it’s a great film with a lot of potential for sequels.

1963, East Berlin. Meet Agent Napoleon Solo (Henry Cavill), a CIA operative on his way to rescue Gaby Teller (Alicia Vikander), a mechanic whose father defected to America years ago after the war. While Gaby is at first unsure and unwilling to follow Solo, it soon becomes evident that they are under KGB surveillance. Agent Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer) is hot on their footsteps and tries to thwart Solo’s plan every step of the way.

Impressed by his adversary’s skills, Napoleon does not kill him when he has the chance. The next day, his superior suggests a new assignment, and a new partner. When it turns out that it’s Kuryakin, both men start fighting, but eventually have to calm down and accept their fate. Their mission is to stop an enigmatic organisation to use Gaby’s father to build them an atomic bomb.

Sent to Rome to meet her uncle and the mysterious Alexander (Luca Calvani) the team go undercover. Illya and Gaby pose as an engaged couple while Napoleon is meant to seduce the sultry Victoria (Elizabeth Debicki), Alexander’s wife and the alleged head of the whole operation.

As they get to know each other better, they realise that there’s a lot more happening, and that they’ll have to learn to work together in order to make things work.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this. I’ve always loved spy movies, but hadn’t had this much fun watching one in ages. Cavill and Hammer have a great dynamic (while also being pleasant to look at), and the overall look and quality of the movie is impeccable.

Vikander is great, though as a German, I’m disappointed that they could not locate more actual Germans to play in this movie. There’s plenty of young talented actresses who would have done a great job without sounding like a bumbling idiot when trying to speak the language they were supposed to know. Even Cavill manages a few words in German and Russian while sounding ok.

Hammer nails the thick Russian accent and his restrained anger surges through the screen. Hugh Grant plays a smaller part, but is his usual charming British self.

Go see this before it’s too late!

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Pictures from: redcarpetrefs.com, wearemoviegeeks.com, thejamesbondsocialmediaproject.com, manfromuncle.org, phimchieurap.vn, flickeringmyth.com, forbes.com