Well everyone, it’s that time of year again. The time where Netflix dumps off a star-studded action-thriller in the dog days of summer simply to slip it under everyone’s radar. This year’s offering is The Union, an espionage thriller led by Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry that has a distinct persona that’s constantly overshadowed by its flaws.
The film follows Mike (Wahlberg), a rugged New Jersey construction worker who’s been living a relatively uneventful existence. However, his entire life changes when his ex-girlfriend, Roxanne (Berry), pulls him into a secret organization, The Union. Now, Mike trains for a mission that requires his casual-looking presence but has high stakes since failure could lead to intel falling into the wrong hands. Unfortunately, everyone’s loyalty is called into question as things go awry and Mike faces a danger he’s never seen before.
The one thing that sets The Union apart is the blue-collar persona it emits from the very beginning. Aside from the grounded feel of Mike’s New Jersey lifestyle, The Union themselves evoke a working-class vibe. While most spy organizations in movies have a sleek look and strong tech backbone, that isn’t the case with The Union. Sure, they definitely have high tech capabilities, but there’s a distinct grit to their version of spy work. There’s a rough and tough authenticity to the way they handle things and some of the personalities and stories that come through delve into that “everyday man” mindset. Plus, the way they are generally disguised in the field is intriguing, since they’re taking advantage of how working class people are often overlooked—leaving unique food for thought. On paper, The Union is the right type of group for someone as relatable and typically grounded as Wahlberg to be attached to. Unfortunately, the potential for The Union is tarnished by, well, the rest of the movie.
The Union is exactly the type of movie Netflix loves to put out during this time: star-studded blockbuster thrillers with no substance. Last year, they did it with Heart of Stone. The year before it was Day Shift. The year before that, it was basically your pick of Beckett or Sweet Girl. The Union might be the worst of the bunch, though, as it generally under-delivers in every capacity. In terms of its action-thrills, it’s painfully soft. For a group that seems so hard on the surface, you would think the action might be bloodier and more brutal. It’s not, and audiences are stuck with a fairly bloodless affair that barely has any memorable deaths (outside of a couple nasty neck-breakers) or gripping fights. Combat and chase sequences are shockingly minimal and even when they happen, they don’t get your pulse going much.
The performances are equally as subpar and disappointing, as no one really seems like they want to be there. Wahlberg, Berry, and the whole cast come off like they’re phoning it in from the start and never find the chemistry the film needs. Wahlberg and Berry especially have no spark, which ruins the will they/won’t they elements of their characters’ romantic arc. It’s rare when anyone comes off believable or adds any energy to the experience. Mike Colter and Jackie Earle Haley are definitely trying to be entertaining and charismatic in their roles, but are drastically under-utilized.
Worst of all though, The Union’s script and story are severely undercooked and overcomplicated. Some of the action hero lines and interactions tossed into this film are completely cringe because of how fake they feel. Berry’s lines as Roxanne against the main villain are especially bad, to the point where it comes off like parody. Plus, with no one really caring in this film, the dialogue has no punch. The narrative is at its worst, though, when it tries to just shove in anything it can to make things more interesting. For the first half or so, The Union is a pretty standard espionage story chronicling Mike’s training and early missions that see the group trying and failing to nab the intel. But then, it needlessly shifts towards its twistier portions, which act as a real sinking point. The film overplays its hand with misdirection, leading to unsatisfying and bizarre villain results.
The Union is a big old mess for Netflix and it wastes the potential of its blue collar concept. It’s another dull August thriller that leaves meaningful thrills, care, or intrigue elsewhere. It’s sure to leave no subscriber satisfied.
