Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre Review: Guy Ritchie & Jason Statham Reach Top Form

Orson Fortune (Jason Statham) and his team of operatives trick an arms dealer (Hugh Grant) while searching for a mysterious weapon.

Guy Ritchie shoots a bullseye in a globetrotting action-comedy loaded with fantastic characters. Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre has Cary Elwes and Jason Statham portraying British black ops agents. They assemble a crackerjack team to hunt down a stolen weapon with mysterious capabilities. It’s a race to the finish as a duplicitous private contractor, lecherous arms dealer, and blackmailed movie star complicate their efforts. Witty dialogue accompanies bullets and bone-crushing beatdowns as everyone gets to know each other, and the charismatic cast keeps the adrenaline flowing when the adventure runs a tad long.

The genteel Nathan Jasmine (Cary Elwes) races to his superior’s office in the British government. Knighton (Eddie Marsan) informs him that some kind of device, called “The Handle,” was stolen from a top secret facility in South Africa. It’s buying price of 10 billion dollars has raised alarms — something that valuable must not be allowed to fall into the wrong hands. What follows is a delightfully fun action romp.

Jason Statham Is Orson Fortune

Nathan recommends they use Orson Fortune (Jason Statham) to lead the mission. He’s a wildcard with expensive tastes but is absolutely lethal and capable. Knighton also tells Nathan that Mike (Peter Ferdinando), a former colleague, has poached some of their best men for his security company. He’s been hired by someone else to retrieve the assumed weapon. They must get to it first.

Orson isn’t happy that Nathan has interrupted his Moroccan holiday. Nathan’s message is essentially, ‘Your country needs you, so get in gear.’ Nathan recruits the brilliant, gorgeous, and wisecracking Sarah Fidel (Aubrey Plaza) for technical matters. J.J. Davies (Bugzy Malone) is young and inexperienced but shows promise. Their first attempt reveals a major player has skin in the game. Billionaire arms dealer Greg Simmonds (Hugh Grant) engineered the theft and sale. He’s the only person who knows what was stolen and the buyer’s identity. Simmonds has impenetrable security but a known weakness for celebrities. They learn that A-list movie star Danny Francesco (Josh Hartnett) is Simmonds’ favorite.

The Captivating Aubrey Plaza

Jason Statham charms as a tough guy who enjoys the finer side of life. A funny running thread has Nathan constantly warning Orson about spending taxpayer money; his love of private jets and fine wines has looted their budget. Orson gets a clever partner in Sarah, who quickly proves her worth. The always captivating Plaza dishes barbs and computer hacks while looking glamorous. She becomes the sexy bait instrumental to their “ruse.”

Related: Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels: 25 Years On

Grant and Hartnett nearly steal the show, though. Grant’s Simmonds, oozing slime with his fake tan, greed, and misogyny, is an absolutely hilarious character. Hartnett’s terrified Danny has to enthrall a ruthless man with no moral compunctions. Hartnett, not usually known for his comedy chops, shows great range as a pampered actor forced to play himself in a dangerous situation. Their character interactions stand out as highlights.

A Talented Cast Shines

Guy Ritchie (Snatch, Wrath of Man) and Statham reach top form in their fifth film together, hearkening back to their first classic, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre gives a talented cast latitude to shine, because Ritchie never allows one performance to overshadow the others. He orchestrates ensemble success in a fun storyline that’s action-packed. Sure, the mystery element isn’t that interesting when finally revealed, but that doesn’t detract from the overall experience. These are likable characters audiences will surely want to see again.

Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre is a production of Miramax, STX Films, and Toff Guy Films. It will have a theatrical release on March 3rd from Lionsgate.