Packing a cracking cast and one hilariously ungainly title, “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” is in many ways a Guy Ritchie flick through and through. Like so many of his movies, it features Ritchie’s signature style, swagger, and offbeat sense of humor. For some that’s a strong selling point; for others it may be a turn-off. Either way, Ritchie remains an interesting filmmaker who’s able to get big studio support and big names to star in his films. I can understand why.

His latest is based on Damien Lewis’ 2014 nonfiction book “Churchill’s Secret Warriors: The Explosive True Story of the Special Forces Desperadoes of WWII” and focuses specifically on Britain’s 1942 clandestine mission dubbed Operation Postmaster. Ritchie takes a more embellished approach to the event, nailing down the historical basics and then creating his own proudly cheeky and joyously violent genre movie. In this case it’s like a spaghetti western in World War II dressing.

To no surprise, the brazenly self-aware “Ungentlemanly Warfare” is colored with the style and energy of its creator. There is plenty of wit and a number of bloody and bombastic action sequences to take in. But Ritchie surprises with stretches of unexpected restraint that allows the more serious elements of history to filter through. It’s an important touch that calls back to other classic men-on-a-mission movies while showing that Ritchie’s interests go beyond just checking his own boxes.

With German U-boats prowling the Atlantic, cutting off vital supply chains and keeping the United States from joining the war, Churchill (a not-so-convincing Rory Kinnear) green-lights a covert operation as a last-ditch effort to avoid surrendering to the Nazis. The Prime Minister’s liaison known as “M” (Cary Elwes) is tasked with putting together a team. Not of everyday soldiers, but of ruthless men who have no issue with breaking the rules in order to complete their task.

“M” immediately calls for the one man who can pull off such a job – Gus March-Phillipps (played by an utterly delightful Henry Cavill, sporting a curly mustache, shaggy beard, and charm to spare). Gus is brought in from prison (yep, prison) and briefed. He’s told that a merchant ship called the Duchessa d’Aosta will be docking in Fernando Po, a small Spanish island in the Gulf of Guinea. Once there it will be loaded with essential Nazi supplies that are to be distributed to the U-boats. The mission – blow up the ship and the supplies, ultimately crippling the U-boats in the Atlantic.

Gus agrees to take on the “unsanctioned, unofficial, unauthorized” mission but only if he brings his own team. A desperate “M” agrees. So Gus summons his band of highly skilled rogues, each with their own reason for wanting to kill Nazis. They include the brawny Swedish brute Anders Lassen (Alan Ritchson), explosives guru Freddy Alvarez (Henry Golding), and expert sailor Henry Hayes (Hero Fiennes Tiffin). And they’ll need to make a stop in the Canary Islands to save an old friend and master tactician Geoffrey Appleyard (Alex Pettyfer) who’s being held at a Nazi base (the rousing rescue sequence is the film at its finest).

As Gus and his team sail towards Fernando Po, two secret operatives, Marjorie Stewart (Eiza González) and Heron (Babs Olusanmokun), arrive early by train to begin preparations. Marjorie is tasked with seducing Heinrich Luhr (Til Schweiger), the sadistic Nazi officer who oversees the port. Heron is the Rick Blaine of Fernando Po – a well-connected club owner who will setup diversions so that Gus and his men can sail in and do their duty. But in the movies things rarely go as planned and the teams will have to navigate some harrowing hurdles to pull off their mission.

Everyone from the charismatic cast to Ritchie himself seems to be having a blast and it certainly carries over to us. The chemistry, the playfulness, the panache – it all clicks. Not everything is lighthearted fun. We get instances that bring us back to earth and remind of the true story’s stakes. Just not many of them. That’s because this movie is much more about our unsavory yet likable antiheroes killing LOTS of Nazis in a number of ungentlemanly ways while thumbing their noses at the weak-kneed Admirals cowering back in London. Who wouldn’t love that?

For the most part “Ungentlemanly Warfare” bops along at a good pace, only lagging a bit in the second half before picking back up on its way to an action-fueled payoff. There’s a reasonable amount of suspense, some humorous dialogue, and well-shot action that swings between savage and comical. And all of it plays to the pulpy rhythms of composer Christopher Benstead’s toe-tapping score. I doubt there will be a sequel. But if Churchill were to once again come calling, I would happily follow Cavill and company on another Nazi-slaying adventure.

VERDICT – 4 STARS