The Union (2024) movie review

The Union is the everyman to the sophisticated James Bond. The spies in the Union stay invisible because no one notices the construction workers, garbage truck runners, etc. Despite the interesting and fresh premise, the movie follows the tired and predictable beats of a spy action movie. 

We meet our hero Mike McKenna (Mark Wahlberg) who is in his late 30s, works in construction, lives in the neighbourhood he was born in, has the same friends since school and lives with his mom. Someone deemed a loser by most societal metrics, Mike doesn’t act as one. That’s because he’s happy. He’s living life like it’s a ride in an amusement park. He is a good guy; a contributing member of society, no matter how small his contributions.

His high-school sweetheart, the girl that got away, walks into the local bar 25 years later, turning his world upside down. As romantic as that sounds, the movie sadly, isn’t. The girl is Roxanne Hall (Halle Berry), and there is an ulterior motive for her return. She works for the Union which failed a mission to safeguard the list of all spies and governmental protective employees around the world. You know, the list. The one that gets lost in every spy movie franchise? Yep, that one.

Roxanne kidnaps Mike, brings him to London, and offers him to work for the Union since they need someone who’s a nobody. With a bruised ego and a heart flushed with renewed feelings, Mike agrees. The organisation is run by Tom Brennan (a perfectly adequate J.K. Simmons), who is pissed off with the failure of the last mission that led to the death of most agents involved, including Nick Faraday (the suave Mike Colter in a minor role). Mike has 2 weeks to get trained and be a field agent, leading to funny moments. The movie overall is pretty funny making the most of Wahlberg’s comedic chops.

As Mike stumbles through the assignment, the sparks between him and Roxanne regenerate. Halle Berry should be in more movies because it doesn’t seem like there is anything she can’t do. As a leading lady, she has always been charming and in The Union, she proves herself to be a capable action hero too. There are a few hurdles to cross before Mike and Roxy can rekindle their relationship though. 25 years is a long time and they ended their relationship with unresolved tension as well. 

The leads while impressive individually, lack romantic chemistry failing to develop the desire in the audience to see them end up together. In the limited time they spend together onscreen, Berry and Colter have stronger chemistry. The script also lacks ingenuity past its premise, while keeping things light. Almost too light to care whether the Union wins or loses. The movie embodies the sentiment, ‘so close to being good, yet so far.’

Julian Farino, an accomplished director on British TV has delivered a lighthearted action-comedy. The action looks practical, performed by the actors and credible stunt workers, based on the results. With the shooting taking place in London and Slovenia, The Union looks damn good. The movie offers a fresh concept and solid action but is scarce in inventive storytelling, and the weak romantic chemistry keeps it from being memorable.