Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre

Guy Ritchie seems to be recombining spare narrative parts with Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre, which finds the British filmmaker back in his comfort zone for better and worse.

This globetrotting espionage thriller, combined with elements of caper comedy, showcases an abundance of exotic scenery, enhanced by Ritchie’s usual array of stylish visual flourishes and a cosmopolitan ensemble cast willing to play along.

However, while the lively pace captures an Ocean’s Eleven vibe, the noir-accented central mystery never generates sufficient suspense or intrigue.

The story focuses on a device containing dangerous new weapons technology. It’s been stolen by Ukrainian mobsters, and a British government official (Cary Elwes) has been tasked with retrieving it.

So he recruits controversial former spy and assassin Orson Fortune (Jason Statham) to spearhead the undercover effort, which is given the French label ruse de guerre — “an unorthodox approach to war,” is how the government rationalizes it.

A third-party complication arises in Greg Simmonds (Hugh Grant), a sleazy billionaire arms dealer who aspires to sell the priceless device on the black market. That leads Fortune to assemble a collection of rogues and misfits who bring different specialties to the mission, complementing his own eccentric methods.

Assisted by an alluring tech guru (Aubrey Plaza) and a mild-mannered sniper (Bugzy Malone), Fortune schemes to kidnap Hollywood actor Danny Francesco (Josh Hartnett) as some bait to distract Simmonds, who could use some clout for his upcoming bash in Cannes.

Meanwhile, Fortune and his crew must navigate and maze of shifting loyalties and cloudy motives, maybe within their own ranks.

As the story crisscrosses four continents, it funnels toward an inevitable final showdown combining high-tech gimmickry, fancy car chases, and empty adrenaline-fueled set pieces.

The film relies on the rapport of its capable performers, who are tasked with making high-stakes deception and manipulation feel cool and charming. Statham displays his usual pugilistic chops, while Grant seems to relish his suave and nefarious villain.

The twisty screenplay by Ritchie (The Gentlemen), in conjunction with frequent collaborators Ivan Atkinson and Marn Davies, is peppered with amusing banter and clever rapid-fire exchanges although the broader screwball gags are more of a mixed bag.

More compelling in its setup than its payoff, there’s an underlying familiarity to the proceedings in Operation Fortune, which turns into an elaborate exercise in style over substance.

Rated R, 114 minutes.