When it comes to Netflix Originals, the rule is simple: if it is not being released in last quarter of the year (when the platform rolls out its high-profile, Oscar-bait films), if it features big-name actors, it sucks. These films bank on star power and a harmless premise to grab attention, often showcased in fleeting 10-seconds clips on the platform (a trailer is not even necessary, as this one was released one week prior to the film’s release). Unfortunately, they rarely deliver anything of substance but still attract a high number of viewers looking for a quick movie fix.
The Union, a spy action comedy with a notable cast including Mark Wahlberg, Halle Berry, J. K. Simmons, and Jackie Earle Haley, is the latest example. The plot centers on Mike McKenna, a New Jersey construction worker whose life is turned upside down when his high school sweetheart, Roxanne Hall, now a secret agent, recruits him for a high-stakes mission.
The film falters in its portrayal of espionage, with The Union’s agents repeatedly making blunders that erode both suspense and credibility. Halle Berry’s character’s claims that the Union outperforms the CIA and FBI by “actually doing the work” is unintentionally amusing given the agents’ constant failures, in the third act she is captured by the villain twice. The plot’s simplicity is underscored by the overly explanatory dialogue, where characters speak slowly and deliberately to ensure every detail is clear, stripping the film of any nuance or subtlety.
A subplot featuring multiple groups vying for a MacGuffin (a cliched list of all secret agents that “can’t fall in the wrong hands”) feels forced and absurd, adding little more than confusion to the narrative. The film is plagued by frequent lapses in logic, such as Roxanne’s sudden desire for Mike to quit right after the first mission, raising the question of why she involved him at all, and the glaringly obvious location of the agency’s headquarters (the one large building in London). Additional issues include Berry’s character inexplicably waiting 25 years to recruit Mike, cringe-worthy dialogue, “YOU snore. No, YOU snore.”, and a poorly executed third-act chase sequence.
I honestly don’t know what is worse: Wahlberg clearly phoning it in, or Berry’s committing extra hard to the performance (due to perhaps not being in a good movie in years). Additionally, Berry’s appearance, marked by a peculiar haircut and obvious plastic surgery, is extremely distracting. The movie ends with a laugh during the credits (probably unintentional), showcasing poorly Photoshopped high school photos of Wahlberg and Berry. Ultimately, The Union is a forgettable and frustrating watch.
- Where to watch
Netflix
Netflix
Play trailer
- Original title
- The Union
- Director
- Julian Farino
- Cast
- Mark Wahlberg, Halle Berry, J.K. Simmons, Mike Colter, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Jessica De Gouw, Alice Lee, Jackie Earle Haley
- Rated
- PG-13
- Screenwriter
- Joe Barton, David Guggenheim
- Composer
- Rupert Gregson-Williams
- Cinematography
- Alan Stewart, John Gamble
- Editor
- Pia Di Ciaula
- Country
- Language
- English
- Distributor (CA)
- Netflix (streaming)
- Streaming (CA)
- Netflix