Personally, I really like Mark Wahlberg. I like to binge-watch his old stuff. His new stuff, though? Well, after Daddy’s Home in 2015, I don’t have any I can say I’ve enjoyed.
And Halle Berry, just wow. Thank god she’s hot!!
Yet another action thriller film, The Union, starring Mark and Halle Berry, was released on August 16, 2024, on Netflix.
| Director | Julian Farino |
| Cast | Mark Wahlberg Halle Berry J.K. Simmons |
| Release Date | August 16, 2024 (USA) |
| Genre | Action, Thriller, Spy |
| Run Time | 107 minutes |
| Synopsis Mike, a down-to earth construction worker, is thrust into the world of super spies and secret agents when his high school sweetheart, Roxanne, recruits him on a high-stakes U.S. intelligence mission. |
I mean, it’s not terrible, but not the one that people will remember for the longest.
The storyline seems eerily similar to some of the recent Netflix releases in the same genre and follows similar templates.
So, What’s The Story Like?
The film starts with a botched espionage mission in a European city, where the good guys, members of a secret agency called ‘The Union‘ led by Halle Berry’s Roxanne and J.K. Simmons’ Tom, are eliminated.
The action then shifts to New Jersey, signaled by Bruce Springsteen’s music and Lorraine Bracco’s appearance. Here, we meet Mark Wahlberg’s character, Mikey, a construction worker and, coincidentally, Roxanne’s high school sweetheart.
Despite his lack of qualifications, Mikey is recruited by ‘The Union‘ for a mission in London to retrieve a vague intelligence item.
The film features action sequences in iconic London locations, often with unintentionally amusing cultural moments. It follows a predictable action-comedy formula, with good chemistry between Berry and Wahlberg.
Although the film showcases practical stunts and capable lead performances, it ultimately feels like a background movie lacking depth.
Stream Or Skip It?
My take: Stream It!!
