Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre – A Decent Action Comedy

In what marks the fifth collaboration between director Guy Ritchie and actor Jason Statham, Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre resembles something of a contractual obligation being committed to film. And yet, despite its worst efforts, still manages to be entertaining in most (not all) of the ways those familiar with Ritchie/Statham’s previous films would come to expect.

Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre unfolds as a typical spy thriller would; there is something dangerous being bought by some unsavory characters and it’s up to a country’s government to stop it, albeit, through unconventional means. Enter Orson Fortune (Statham) and his team of professional disruptors, Sarah (Plaza) and J.J. (Bugzy Malone), who under the guidance of their handler, Nathan (Cary Elwes) take on this mission to stop those that need to be stopped. As fortune (wink) would have it, that person is none other than billionaire Greg Simmonds (Hugh Grant). As the title would imply and drawing inspiration from its French phrase eluding to wartime deception, Orson and his team take an unorthodox approach towards getting in with Simmonds by luring him out with his favorite movie star, Danny Francesco (Hartnett), in order to retrieve information on the mysterious item being purchased and by whom.

For those that understand, the plots are never the main draw when sitting down with a Ritchie film. They are never neglected; however, they never serve as the main draw for an audience. That magic lies in his casting and the unique chemistry around which he builds his films. Rarely can one see a Ritchie film and not be able to select a favorite character, whether through their selected quirks, foibles, or general disdain for the world in which they operate to the extent where the general plot can often fade into the background while the audience enjoys and is entertained by spending more time with their particular characters. Here, this approach is attempted but never truly takes root with its selected main cast. Statham is playing a role he’s now perfected and while Plaza, Malone, and Elwes offer some moments to play off of, it is nowhere near the level expected from previous outings.

In most cases, Statham would play the brooding serious one but be constantly challenged by a quirkier or comical sidekick, gang member, etc. With Fortune, that necessary relief didn’t land as it should through half-hearted attempts by Plaza’s dialogue delivery as Sarah, a dead-on-arrival back-and-forth with Elwes’ Nathan, and the occasional great line from Grant’s Simmonds that comes much too deep into the film to make a lasting impact. The unspoken uncertainty, building tension, and crackle between usually imbued within his players as they’re placed in comical or stressful situations just never feels present here despite actors that have displayed a previous capacity to achieve this feeling. It’s because of this that Ruse de Guerre never truly lands a significant impact, but there is an odd indescribable energy emitting from the movie that almost gives the sensation that it never really wanted to leave an impact at all, but is simply happy to exist.

Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre delivers an entertaining theatrical experience, which serves as a minor achievement in and of itself after the film’s delay for over a year due to changes behind the scenes of STX, script fears over depicting Ukrainian villains, and COVID-19. Throughout its running time, one can’t help but think how this would be better received in the comfort of an audience’s home theater. It possesses a streaming energy that Netflix, Amazon Prime or Peacock would pine over juxtaposed to their current catalog and seems destined to reach its digital shelves in the very near future.

In the end, Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre is a serviceable action spy comedy that offers decent entertainment value. While somewhat lacking in the areas that have made previous good Ritchie films great, there are signs of life within some of the pairings, specifically Hartnett’s Francesco and Grant’s Simmonds who offer some of the best moments of the film. There is enough here for Ritchie/Statham fans to enjoy while also satisfying the casual moviegoer who is looking to escape for a few hours.

still courtesy of Lionsgate

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