The Union

There’s another top-secret government agency battling terrorists in The Union, a derivative thriller that feels like only a slight variation on a familiar concept.

Despite a solid cast, this globetrotting espionage saga combines elements of comedy, romance, mystery, and action, without really distinguishing itself at any of them.

The film quickly introduces us to The Union, a shadow organization of former FBI and CIA operatives without government jurisdiction or oversight. “Half of the intelligence community doesn’t know we exist and the other half regrets finding out,” explains secret agent Roxanne (Halle Berry).

Its latest mission involves intercepting sensitive high-tech intelligence with wide-ranging ramifications from a network of hackers with sinister connections. Roxanne’s boss, Tom (J.K. Simmons), explains the need to recruit someone outside their ranks to infiltrate the criminal syndicate.

So Roxanne arranges to kidnap her boyfriend, Mike (Mark Wahlberg), a mild-mannered construction worker who’s not even aware what she really does for a living. Yet she somehow convinces him, and one montage later, he’s surprisingly adept at parkour, motorcycle maneuvers, and martial arts.

Mike is introduced to some of Roxanne’s eccentric colleagues including an enforcer (Mike Colter) and a hacker (Jackie Earle Haley), yet remains oblivious to the extent of the dangers that he and Roxanne will face together.

Wahlberg builds a rooting interest as the naïve outsider struggling to piece everything together while being chased, shot at, and otherwise assaulted by random thugs. He and Berry each get to reinforce their physical credentials in their roles, while Simmons gleefully tosses off sarcastic quips at amusing intervals.

Veteran television director Julian Farino (“Entourage”) stages some stylish set pieces, but the lack of more clearly defined villains or motives inhibits the effort to escalate the stakes as intended.

Describing the bad guys generally as a collection of eastern European mercenaries or whatnot doesn’t really move the needle in terms of adversarial character development, so the ensuing twists revealing corruption and betrayal feel almost inevitable.

The screenplay by David Guggenheim (Safe House) and Joe Barton (Encounter) generates some scattered laughs, although the banter is insufficient to cover for the far-fetched plot that lacks consistent suspense or intrigue.

Emphasizing spectacle over substance with its lively pace and hollow narrative, The Union only marginally comes together.

Rated PG-13, 107 minutes.