Suvudu Universe

There’s an awful lot that can be unpacked from the new The Man From U.N.C.L.E. trailer, as shown below. We still have a fascination with the 1960s, a decade 50 years ago, particularly when it comes to clothes and strong-jawed leading men. Perhaps it’s easier to contemplate clear-cut good and bad guys back then, when the world was simpler. The clothes were more defined (both in terms of lines and in terms of what was acceptable to wear), and that provides a substantial immediate visual image. It’s also a lot more fun to do spy movies without modern tech, which makes these kinds of action guys obsolete.

I’m much too young to remember the original, although I’ve read about it. I’m sure watching it now would be dull in pacing and old-fashioned geopolitics, but the idea of our guy and their guy, both handsome, having to work together is timeless. Mostly, I’m glad to see Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer get additional chances on-screen after headlining huge flops — Man of Steel and The Lone Ranger, respectively. (Well, maybe Man of Steel wasn’t a flop, exactly, but it sure was disappointing.)

The film is scheduled for release in mid-August, not a promising time for movies the studios have a lot of faith in, but so far, it seems like a fun summer distraction.