Review of How to Steal the World

Say what you like about The Man From U.N.C.L.E, but one thing that has always kept the series fresh, appealing and enjoyable is its villains. The Karate Killers had a badass Curt Jürgens and Telly Savalas, One Spy Too Many had Rip Torn, The Helicopter Spies had John Dehner and this film kept up the tradition with a charismatic Barry Sullivan, Peter Mark Richman as the head of T.H.R.U.S.H and Leslie Nielsen. Refreshingly, this film, the last in the series, is far lessy campy and silly but actually provides some genuine laughs - Richman and Eleanor Parker seemingly having sex at every oppurtunity. There's plenty of action and espionage too, helicopters, gunfights and Bond-esque locations (a precoursor to Sanchez's meditation retreat in Licence To Kill keeps things interesting). Unfortunately, the film is let down by a bored-looking Solo and Kuryakin (David McCallum looks especially fed up) but there's still plenty to enjoy. One of the better entries in the film series - I've now seen them all.

3/5