‘THE UNION’: NETFLIX TACKLES EXCITING SPY ROMANCE
Another in a string of romantic almost breezy kind of spy thrillers, The Union is, in a word, a fun flick.
The Union (2024) Netflix Film Review
In the aftermath of a mission gone bad and the loss of her team, Roxanne Hall (Halle Berry) is taking a risk and bringing in someone new. Her risk, much to the dismay of her boss (J.K. Simmons), is walking back into the hometown bar where her high school sweetheart still drinks.
Mike McKenna (Mark Wahlberg) is a hard-working blue collar man who lives in his same neighborhood and spends time with the same friends. What he never expects is seeing Rox again, the girl who dropped out of his world. Now she’s back, she also has ulterior motives. She works for a secret intelligence firm and they’re a bit short-handed so recruiting is now part of her plan. Only thing is, Mike isn’t in on this secret plan.
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‘THE UNION’: NETFLIX TACKLES EXCITING SPY ROMANCE. #MarkWahlberg stars in this 2024 Netflix action flick. #HalleBerry #Netflix Share on X
Entertaining is often a word you can associate with Mark Wahlberg films. The Union is no different. It’s full of excitement and fun and danger plus a slight hint of romance. The film plays all of these well and balances things nicely. Not unlike titles such as Mr. and Mrs. Smith or The Family Plan (which also features Wahlberg), this one is a stereotype in many ways, but that’s also part of why it’s fun.
The action isn’t too much but it’s high on being exciting albeit low on romance. At least in the sense of being over-the-top or “big.” Instead I think it’s “just right” as it features more “longing” and recognition (this is important) of interest. It also helps that these two share a past and both are at a point in life when they know what they want. Plus the “just enough” means that what is here is good. The bedroom scene is actually pretty sweet. Halle Berry and Mark Wahlberg are both good in their respective roles plus the rest of the cast is equally well cast.
If you like any of the films fitting this genre, The Union will be a good match for you. Things keep hopping with the action sequences and the coolness (for Mike) of visiting new locales like these European locations, as the genre loves, doesn’t hurt anything either.
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Content: there is lots of gunfire and bullets flying. Nothing is ever too graphic though. Mostly we just see the characters wielding their weapons and hand to hand combat is the primary choice of “weapon.” There is some innuendo and there’s a joke about sleeping with your teacher (as an adult). There may be some other mild crude jokes here and there. The film rates PG-13.
