The Union Movie Review: Dear filmmakers, if you cast a well-known face in a spy thriller and kill that person's character in an insipid manner without showing the body, two deductions can be made: one, you wasted a good cameo; two, that character is likely to return as the film's antagonist. With that note, let me begin my review of The Union, a spy action-comedy starring Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry, which Netflix greenlit, I assume, after seeing the success of Apple TV+'s Ghosted. Both films feature a plot where the female lead is a secret service agent, and the male lead is an everyday man caught up in spy games, as their romance reignites. And yes, both films also have two very good-looking stars in the lead who display zero chemistry with each other while going through the motions trapped in a series of lacklustre action scenes. ‘The Union’ Trailer: Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry Star As High School Sweethearts-Turned-Secret Agents in Netflix’s Spy Thriller.

The Union is a secret spy organisation that assists other intelligence agencies in their country. The movie begins with their unit being ambushed while extracting an asset, resulting in most of the members being killed. Additionally, intel containing information about all the spies and agents across various departments gets stolen and is set to be auctioned soon to the highest bidder.

The Union needs to retrieve that intel before anyone else can lay their hands on it, but they require a complete nobody to help them gain access. Roxanne (Halle Berry), their top agent, has someone in mind—Mike (Mark Wahlberg), her former high-school sweetheart, who is currently leading an aimless life while having an affair with their former teacher. He is honeypotted by Roxanne, then abducted by her men, and jetted off to London before being convinced to join her organisation. Why is he chosen out of everyone in the world to be part of such a dangerous mission? Apparently, Mike was good at sports in high school. That's it.

Watch The Trailer of 'The Union':

And that's enough for him to be whipped into shape as an agent with just two weeks of training. You know the drill after that: the leads rekindle their old attraction, some soulless chase and fight scenes, a traitor in their midst, the leads going rogue, and the happy ending. Imagine every trope you expect from this genre, and you'll find it here. Spaceman Movie Review: Adam Sandler Impresses in This Netflix Space Drama That Doesn't Quite Live Up To Its Meditative Potential.

Of course, the genericness of the plot could have been easily dismissed if The Union, directed by Julian Farino, were at least entertaining, fun, or slick. But it isn't. The movie drags from one set piece to another with the energy of an earthworm and the excitement of watching that earthworm crawl. After an hour of listlessly chasing MacGuffins, The Union drops in a twist I was expecting from the beginning before plunging into another series of chases and fights, wrapping up as conveniently as possible.

As for the actors, Halle Berry is quite captivating despite the blandness of it all - even that haircut is stylish - while Wahlberg is stuck in the same acting space we've seen in his past few duds, carrying at most two expressions. Their lack of chemistry also kills whatever buzz remains. JK Simmons does what JK Simmons does, while actors like Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and Jackie Earle Haley are wasted.

‘The Union’ Movie Review - Final Thoughts

The Union is a forgettable addition to the spy action-comedy genre, bogged down by a formulaic plot, bland performances, and a lack of genuine excitement. It is simply a tedious exercise - a series of those carried out by Netflix to bring in A-listers and trick people into watching bad films - that's instantly forgotten once the movie is done.

Rating:1.5

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 16, 2024 10:27 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).