Although opinions diverge drastically on the quality of the films that he was in, is generally regarded as having been a decent Superman. Some may have enjoyed Zack Snyder’s moody, pessimistic take on the iconic character more than others, but Cavill perfectly captured the inherent goodness that defines the “Man of Tomorrow.” Cavill’s run as Superman was handled messily by the studio, and now that with . However, there was another potential franchise that Cavill tried to launch that he was even better in. The reboot of the classic spy series showed that Cavill was a charismatic leading man who deserved to lead a fun, action-packed series of summer blockbusters.
before decided to tackle the classic buddy adventure. While Ritchie is often a filmmaker that embraces modern techniques, has a very classical approach to the espionage genre. It’s slick and stylized but features more cheeky humor and charm than anything that the Snyder-verse ever came close to. Cavill stars as Napoleon Solo, the slick World War II veteran turned CIA agent who is forced to work with the Russian KGB agent Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer). Their countries are forced to make a brief pact of peace in order to stop a group of Nazi sympathizers from causing a nuclear crisis.
It’s no surprise why Cavill’s name is thrown around so frequently for the role of James Bond or why he's lending his talents to , as his natural physique and winning smile embody the charisma that defines the classic romanticized spy. However, allowed Cavill to not only show off his charismatic nature but show a comedic side that few viewers would have realized he had . It’s the type of performance that immediately announces that Cavill could do something different, and the film wouldn’t have worked nearly as well if it wasn’t for his energetic performance. Sadly, ’s box office performance prevented it from ever becoming the franchise that it should have been
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One of the issues with Snyder’s depiction of Superman is that he simply projected themes onto the character instead of building the audience’s relationship with Cavill himself. He does the exact opposite here; Cavill essentially invites the audience into the world of espionage as he narrates his plan to the mechanic Gaby Teller () within the opening few moments. Every explanation of his gadgets or plan is layered with a joke or double entendre, revealing that Solo seems to enjoy his work as much as possible. This nuance is a lot of fun, but it showed that Cavill was willing to lean into the cleverness of the scene that hints at the brief backstory we’re given about Solo.
We later learn that he was caught smuggling weapons after the war and avoided jail time by taking up .
Cavill’s confidence is the perfect way to kick off the film; he’s smart enough to fit within , but when he makes a few critical mistakes and gives us hilarious reactions. Solo can’t help but react with personal disappointment or a nod of confusion if any of his gadgets screw up or if his Russian pursuer gets any closer. While there’s a performative quality to the way that Solo presents his self-image, there’s also a good deal of personal ego that gets him into more than a few embarrassing scenarios.
The biggest issue with the film is unfortunately Cavill’s counterpart; beyond Hammer’s , his broad depiction of a constantly furious Russian force of nature sticks out as the one character that edges into being a caricature and lacks the delicate self-awareness that makes Cavill so great. Ironically, this only makes everything that Solo does to annoy his new partner even funnier, as Cavill proves that he has a knack for physcial comedy. Even his subtle physical movements and confident stroll seem to set off Kuryakin, and it’s hilarious to watch Solo make all of their interactions as uncomfortable as possible.
However, Cavill’s relationship with Vikander onscreen is quite interesting. Although Solo is a womanizer, he doesn’t try to flirt with Gaby or distract her from her mission. The two have a good rapport, and there’s a sign of respect he shows to the young woman that he’s forced into the world of spycraft. She has to learn about her father’s past and the secret conflicts behind closed doors, and Solo thankfully gives her room to adjust. His confidence actually is needed when he’s showing her how to survive, as she realizes that he has the experience to justify his bold statements. If there was , it’s nice to see that he got to play a slightly more progressive version of a world-class spy.
delicately plays around with the limits of a PG-13, constantly hinting at the lure of violence or sexual content, but never edging too close to being explicit. It’s reflective of how the original series was subjected to television censors, and there’s a humorously old-fashioned manner to Cavill’s delivery that . When he flirts with a staffer at the luxury hotel he’s staying at, he emphasizes every double entendre so that what he’s actually saying couldn’t be more clear while also being obfuscated. Similarly, Cavill never lets us forget that we’re still watching an assassin; his casual quips after dispatching the extremists that pursue him are darkly funny.
ends with an obvious plug for a sequel, teasing that this triumvirate of Solo, Kuryakin, and Gaby would be off on another adventure together in Istanbul. Sadly, all plans for a sequel were essentially scrapped as a result of the film’s box office under performance in a summer that also included , and . Although plans for a sequel were developed, the possibility of another installment now seems even more unlikely given the allegations surrounding Hammer. It would certainly be great to see Cavill, Ritchie, and Vikander return with another actor cast in Hammer’s place (perhaps Vikander’s husband,
Michael Fassbender?), but that doesn’t seem like it's a priority for Warner Brothers right now.
It’s unfortunate because Cavill showed signs that he could develop Solo even further. There’s part of his backstory that’s still unexplored, and his obsession with women and alcohol may be derived from the difficult upbringing that he alludes to. At the same time, it would simply be a blast to see Cavill playing around in different continents, quipping at different villains, and devising new complex schemes to ultimately win the day. While Cavill and Ritchie have joined forces once more for , it is disappointing that
sequel will not see the light of day.
is available to rent on Amazon.
