The Union Review: Halle Berry and Mark Wahlberg Ignite Netflix Action Flick

Like a well-oiled covert operation team, the cast and crew of the latest Netflix action flick, “The Union,” know their roles and execute them with precision. Mark Wahlberg stars as a typical down-to-earth guy, making a grand entrance shirtless. Halle Berry, playing a veteran intelligence agent, impresses in a Catwoman-esque all-leather outfit, while JK Simmons brings his signature no-nonsense authority as the head of a covert group of working-class secret agents, named the Union. Julian Farino, known for directing shows like Giri/Haji and Entourage, skillfully handles the numerous combat scenes, ensuring they’re snappy yet not overwhelming.

Despite the film’s high-profile cast and well-choreographed action, the movie’s fictional premise is somewhat unclear. The Union relies heavily on the star power of Wahlberg and Berry, hoping to overshadow a plot that seems dubious even by whimsical caper standards. Berry’s character, Roxanne, is a longtime operative for the secret federal agency composed of blue-collar workers who work under the radar and disdain the CIA for its elitism.

The movie kicks off with the Union in a state of crisis. A mission to extract a CIA defector in Trieste goes wrong, resulting in the death of several agents, including Roxanne’s closest partner Nick Faraday (played by Mike Colter). This sets the stage for Wahlberg’s character, Mike, Roxanne’s high school sweetheart, to step in. Mike leads a simple life in his hometown in New Jersey, living with his mom (Lorraine Bracco) and working in construction. The script gives texture to Roxanne and Mike’s bond, with Wahlberg and Berry’s long-standing real-life friendship adding warmth and authenticity to their on-screen chemistry.

Mike’s character is quickly persuaded to join the mission, despite initial resistance. He is drugged and whisked to London, soon finding himself involved in a potentially lethal mission alongside Roxanne. He becomes increasingly won over by the Union’s ethos: little guys standing up to big-moneyed villains, which include cartoonish Iranian terrorists, North Korean operatives, Russian spies, and posh Londoners. Simmons’s character, Brennan, emphasizes this working-class pride, stating, “Street smarts over book smarts. Blue collar, not blue blood. People that build our cities, keep production lines humming, that’s who we are. We get shit done. ’Cause people like us are expected to get shit done, ’cause nobody ever handed us anything a day in our lives.”

The mission, although vaguely explained, involves stealing back government intelligence stored in a briefcase, aiming to protect people who served in western-allied countries. The film flirts with class politics, which may seem pandering at times, but it’s Simmons and Wahlberg’s performances, along with Berry’s portrayal of a hyper-competent fighter, that keep it engaging.

Throughout its 1 hour and 47-minute runtime, “The Union” maintains a steady rhythm of information, missions, combat, and flirting, all while navigating increasingly implausible plot twists and an extensive car chase in Croatia. The film’s tone is light, the stunts impressive, and it visually stands out from other Netflix action films such as “The Man from Toronto” and “Lift.”

Wahlberg and Berry’s characters often come off more like exes turned friends rather than romantic partners. Interestingly, the film avoids giving audiences a romantic climax, which may hint at a potential sequel. Whether “The Union” has enough appeal to warrant a sequel is debatable, but it certainly surpasses initial expectations.

“The Union” is streaming on Netflix from 16 August.