The Union: Movie Review

‘The Union’ Movie Review: Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry Lead a Decent Spy Comedy

Initial release: August 16, 2024
Director: Julian Farino
Story by: David Guggenheim
Distributed by: Netflix
Cinematography: Alan Stewart
Music by: Rupert Gregson-Williams

Good grief, why do we tolerate movies like The Union? This latest addition to Netflix’s growing collection of throwaway action films falls squarely into what I’d call the “We’ll Stream Anything Because You’ll Watch It (And We Might Hike Your Subscription Price Again)” genre. Mindless action flicks like Lift, Atlas, and Trigger Warning not only lack originality but also shamelessly borrow from better films—without the skill to make it work.

Why do we keep putting up with movies like The Union? This latest entry in Netflix’s expanding catalog of disposable action films fits perfectly into what I’d call the “We’ll Stream Anything Because You’ll Watch It (And Might as Well Raise Your Subscription Price)” genre. Mindless action romps like Lift, Atlas, and Trigger Warning not only lack originality but also clumsily rip off superior films without any real finesse.

Roxanne and Brennan watch helplessly as a rogue terrorist group eliminates their entire team, including Roxanne’s operational leader, Nick (Evil’s Mike Colter), after he abducts an asset attempting to sell government secrets. Joe Barton (The Ritual) and David Guggenheim (Safe House) craft a script so painfully predictable from the very first scene that it only drags the film down further.

How? By stripping away any potential suspense the story might have had. To make matters worse, there’s the issue of Mark Wahlberg’s character, Mike—Roxanne’s high school sweetheart from the tri-state area, whom she hasn’t seen in nearly 25 years. And yet, just a day or two after her mission falls apart, her grand solution is to recruit her ex-boyfriend… simply because he was once a reliable presence in her life.

You’re probably thinking Mike must be a cop, right? Nope. Maybe a disgraced ex-officer, fired and trying to turn his life around? Wrong again. Okay, then surely he’s military—at least someone with combat or weapons training? Not even close.

No, Mike is a lifelong construction worker with zero experience in law enforcement, the military, or espionage. But somehow, that doesn’t stop him. I suppose he could take down a Russian spy with a nail gun, a whistle, or sheer determination. And wouldn’t you know it—after what feels like a mere 48 hours of training, he’s suddenly holding his own.

That’s The Union in a nutshell: a movie banking on audiences buying into the “everyman” hero—because if he can do it, why not you?

Director Julian Farino (Entourage) delivers one of the year’s worst films, with a cast that seems to be sleepwalking through their roles. Yet audiences continue to tolerate this kind of laziness, forgetting that they have the ultimate power—canceling their subscription. If you’re paying for a premium streaming service, you should be demanding better.

Instead, we let platforms like Netflix churn out the same recycled garbage week after week. This is paint-by-numbers filmmaking at its worst, the kind that gives streaming services a bad name. So, if you’re fed up, do something about it. Email your provider, dig deep, and channel your inner Howard Beale: “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!”

But let’s be real—you probably won’t. And if that’s the case, don’t complain when the next Union-level disaster inevitably drops.