A sense of predictability hangs over Operation Fortune, and for a picture that relies on suspense, that’s definitely not a good thing. But for those who love Guy Ritchie’s early work (Snatch, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels), the film offers brisk entertainment with all the elements of his breakout features. There’s a case of weapons, a host of characters and a murder’s row of gangs, all amid the London underworld. Plus, Hugh Grant as a villain!
Grant brings uniqueness to this generic thriller, playing Greg Simmonds, a bad guy who mixes the accent of Michael Caine with the look of Al Pacino. The only thing stopping him from world domination is agent Fortune (Jason Statham), who’s been yanked from vacation to keep him from getting his hands on a nuclear weapon.
Along with agents Sarah (Aubrey Plaza) and Davies (Bugzy Malone), Fortune sets out on his mission, which turns out to be more mangled than the film’s full title (Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre). There’s a number of groups who want this weapon, including a group of Ukranians who were edited out of the action after Russia invaded, and a group of Turks who were poached from Fortune’s crew. Everyone throws shade as they hop from one location to the next, all while Fortune drinks bottles of wine, gets upset and starts fights, and operatives like Nathan Jasmine (Carey Elwes) and movie star Danny Francesco (Josh Hartnett), who’s blackmailed into helping the crew, trade insults over gunfire.
Plaza stands out as the droll Sarah. “Unfazed” doesn’t even begin to describe her ability to stay cool, calm and collected in the face of danger, even as the rest of the spies get in each other’s way and talk smack to each other non-stop. She’d be a perfect fit for the next Bond. She’s cornered the market on performances that are stoic and sassy, and that’s all Ritchie asks of her here, as he surrounds her with a variety of obstacles and allows her to play off everything from massive…
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