Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Moderate
- breezy
- witty
- awestruck
- casual movie night
- weekend viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly viewed the film as a formulaic and forgettable action comedy, with occasional production or performance strengths unable to overcome thin characterization and predictable plotting.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Construction worker Mike is pulled into Roxanne's high-stakes intelligence mission despite having no established espionage background.
Mike's construction-worker identity is positioned against the demands and assumptions of the intelligence establishment.
Roxanne recruits her former high school sweetheart Mike, making their past relationship central to the mission's emotional setup.
The film combines a high-stakes intelligence mission with comedy and Mike's awestruck, baffled outsider perspective.
Films like The Union, and why
The Man from Toronto
shared spy action, fish out of water humor, and working-class protagonist premise
Knight and Day
shared breezy espionage action, romantic tension, and formulaic comedy
The Lost City
shared ordinary-person recruitment into international espionage and comic action tone
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
shared old-flame dynamics, spy missions, and accessible action comedy
Movie Details
- Director
- Julian Farino
- Release Date
- 2024-08-15
- Runtime
- 109 min
- Rating
- 6.0 / 10 (1230)
Cast
- Mark Wahlberg
- Halle Berry
- J.K. Simmons
- Mike Colter
- Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
- Jessica De Gouw
- Alice Lee
- Jackie Earle Haley
- Stephen Campbell Moore
- Lorraine Bracco
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Union about?
- A down-to-earth construction worker is recruited by his former sweetheart for a dangerous spy operation that tests whether everyday grit can survive the secret world.
- What is The Union like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Union as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as simple.
- Is The Union violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Union as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Union?
- Critics broadly viewed the film as a formulaic and forgettable action comedy, with occasional production or performance strengths unable to overcome thin characterization and predictable plotting.
- Which films are like The Union?
- Films with a similar feel include The Man from Toronto, Knight and Day, The Lost City, and Mr. & Mrs. Smith.
- How long is The Union?
- The Union runs 109 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Union?
- In United States, The Union streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
