Guy Ritchie’s Dullest Comedy Suddenly Takes HBO Top by Storm

Recognized as the master of gangster comedies, Guy Ritchie became one of the most successful giants in the cinema industry. We bet you’ve seen his Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch or The Gentlemen, both the movie and the hit show.

However, Ritchie’s latest films seem to disappoint not only critics, but the audience too, and it’s proved by the fact they all underperformed at the box office. These include 2023’s controversial flick that is now holding the second place on HBO’s global chart.

The plot of this comedy revolves around Orson, an in-demand operative called in by the British government for a secret mission to steal a mysterious object before it’d be sold far away. It becomes the movie’s central macguffin, as we’ll never know what it really is.

Such a simple fabula then gets complicated, as it always happens in such flicks, as Orson meets numerous obstacles on his way, including the traps of a wealthy arms dealer. It makes this movie a much smarter roller coaster than it may seem at first.

This time Ritchie aimed to present his own take on the Ocean’s-like heists, Bourne-inspired action and, finally, spy motifs mimicking the Mission: Impossible franchise. Disappointingly, this mix fails the quality test and doesn’t stand out at all.

The movie and its humor have been severely criticized for being plain, predictable and simply boring. It seems like you’ve already seen it all, and it’s reflected in the film’s shameful critical score on Rotten Tomatoes, 51%, one of the lowest in Ritchie’s portfolio.

Even the star-studded cast doesn’t manage to save this comedy from being forgettable. It stars the acclaimed action hero Jason Statham as the lead, Aubrey Plaza, Cary Elwes, Josh Hartnett and The Gentlemen’s charismatic star Hugh Grant.

Titled Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre, this spy flick grossed only $49 million, not even covering its $50 million budget, and is claimed to be disappointing and dull.

“It was quite boring and just...streched on for too long. Didn't have that guy ritchie pace even though it tried,” concludes Redditor @BlackSummer123.

Check out whether it’s really a miss or, on the contrary, Guy Ritchie’s most underrated gem, as Operation Fortune is available for streaming on Max.