The Union Review: Plot - Mike (Mark Wahlberg) is a 47-year-old irresponsible adult who, when we first meet him, wakes up in the bed of his seventh-grade English teacher after they’ve hooked up. IMDb describes him as "down to earth"; please don’t fall for it. One day, his childhood sweetheart, Roxanne (Halle Berry), returns to town, and Mike sees a new hookup opportunity. However, when he learns the real reason behind her return, he finds himself entangled in a world of secret agents, a deadly mission, and top-secret information that no one should know.

The Union Review: Analysis

Raise your hand if you’ve seen a film recently where a common man with no "ties" is hired by a “secret” US government agency to save the world from impending doom. It feels like a genre that’s been done to death. The Union is so convinced of its own mediocrity that it doesn’t even attempt to rise above it, resulting in a painfully average film, despite featuring two of Hollywood’s most talented actors. The film could easily have been named Basic because that better describes its effort than the current title. 

Written by Joe Barton, based on a story by David Guggenheim, The Union is directed by Julian Farino, who is also known for directing Brooklyn Nine-Nine, just so you know. The film, which drops on Netflix today, finds comfort in staying within its safe zone, but ends up being so complacent that it never even tries to introduce a novel idea in a genre already overflowing with similar stories. The movie begins with a failed mission, progresses to a secret agency trying to find a man to help them recover a crucial item, and ends with that man becoming a martial arts expert through a quick montage. And just like that, he saves the day. It’s that simple!

The Union has a plot so generic that it never even attempts to reach a crescendo, let alone achieve one. Everything is laid out so predictably that you’ve already figured out the villain long before the reveal. Characters come and go on screen as if it’s a stage play, with no effort made to add new layers that would make the story stand out—even on paper, this would be obvious. The characters are one-dimensional, with no purpose beyond the situation they’re in.

Take Halle Berry’s character, Roxanne, for example. We’re told she became a special agent (as if we didn’t already have enough of those) with no backstory. Where is her family? What does she do when she’s not on screen? Who are these men around her, and why does the world need saving? The top-secret documents that supposedly threaten world safety feel like a flimsy excuse to make us care.

As for Mark Wahlberg, he plays a charming man, but what is his motivation? Why is he doing all of this, and what does he gain from it? Acceptance and a heroic job are no longer compelling traits for redemption. For most of its runtime, The Union feels like a watered-down Citadel on a budget because no one is willing to spend Rs 1600 crores on it again. Both storylines are vague and unfocused. The characters arrive, accomplish their goals, and then the credits roll. But who is bothering to add depth to any of this?

This review may be short because there’s little to discuss. Halle Berry performs her stunts like a true Catwoman, and James Gunn should consider rehiring her; otherwise, she might continue doing roles like this. The technical department follows orders and creates a decent world, but nothing more.

The Union Review: Final Verdict

Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry deserve a story that respects their filmography and talent. The Union does nothing in any direction and is as stagnant as it can be.

The Union will be released on Netflix on August 16, 2024. Stay tuned to Mobile Masala for more information on this and everything else from the world of streaming and films.