‘Operation Fortune: The Great Hoax’ is pure Guy Ritchie: a hilarious action thriller that shows what an author can do in his comfort zone

On many occasions, talking about our favorite directors does not imply talking about specific titles that have marked us or about the relationship between the quantity and quality of their feature films. Giving a filmmaker such recognition is closely related to our ability to connect with their sensibilities, their sense of humor and their affiliates; something deeper than the work itself and that directly influences exposing ourselves to his work.

As for me, one of the contemporary filmmakers with whom I commune the most and who rarely – very rarely – ever disappoints me is the always interesting Guy Ritchie; a master of the noble arts of entertaining and storytelling in pictures that he has returned to his habitual tendency of linking successes after be shredded for that machine to annul identities that is the Disney factory.

with the hilarious ‘Operation Fortune: The Great Hoax’Ritchie minimizes risks and chooses to remain in the epicenter of his comfort zone to offer a new cocktail that mixes thriller, action and that trademark sly comedy in 114 minutes of entertainment in its purest form. A top-level escapist hobby that exudes quality and, what is even more important in these times, personality.

having a great time

Let’s put it in a direct and forceful way: ‘Operation Fortune’ is a one hundred percent Guy Ritchie production more in line with his lighter recent works —in terms of tone— ‘The Gentlemen’ Y ‘Operation UNCLE’ that with a magnificent ‘Awaken the fury’ that brought out his most sober mood. That said, it will be easy for the reader familiar with the British filmography to sense whether or not he is facing a film according to his tastes.

I have no doubt that we are facing one of those premature releases that will survive the 12 months of news that lies ahead and that will end up sneaking into some other list with the best of 2023 that will not be without surprises. and the main reason for that is an innate ability to have fun without any complex.

‘Operation Fortune’ is a clear reflection of what a director immersed in his element and with the autopilot on can materialize. The latter, far from suggesting reluctance or lack of ingenuity, translates into a mastery of his own formal and narrative codes that, in the first instance, are projected onto a treatment of action and staging as vibrant, spidic and spectacular as as usual —special mention to the editing by Ritchie’s regular collaborator, James Herbert.

However, although the camera games, transitions and rhythm shine at a high level, and despite the fact that the intrigue, the management of the intrigue and the games of masks are exceedingly interesting, the great star of the function lies in its light-hearted tone and in a collection of characters that could well have come out of a spoof movies from ‘Mission: Impossible’ five stars.

Orson Fortune and his team are the perfect travel companions for an international adventure in which dialogue is a much more powerful weapon than any that is fired during its tight footage. The lapidary exchanges of phrases and the running gag they fly at full speed starting the occasional laugh of complicity while a Hugh Grant in his sauce and an immense Aubrey Plaza —probably the best of the cast— steal every single spotlight.

With ‘Operation Fortune: The Great Hoax’ Guy Ritchie plays at home. He has surrounded himself with regular collaborators such as Jason Statham, has opted for a tone, a formal approach and a story archetype to which he is more than accustomed and has once again put on the table the reasons that make him a an author who —almost— always satisfies his parishioners.