In Guy Ritchie's newest film, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. , Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer's characters Napoleon Solo and Ilya Kuryakin (respectively) literally try to kill each other five seconds after they first meet in Cold War-era East Berlin. Sure, their view of one another does eventually shift from loathing hatred to begrudging acknowledgement after they're forced to work together to save the world from impending doom, but still: It's clear that these two dudes don't exactly have the bromance of a Cory and Shawn, or a Ryan and Seth. However, after sitting down with Cavill and Hammer to talk about The Man From U.N.C.L.E., I can confirm that you'd never know they once played characters who borderline hate each other. Not only do they totally seem like the Ryan and Seth/Cory and Shawn-type of friends, but they're actually at the point where they can go into tangents about the best flip-flop brand so naturally, onlookers wouldn't even know what hit them. It's a type of chemistry so real and organic, you can't help but sit back and stare in awe.
That's not to say this chemistry isn't present in The Man From U.N.C.L.E.: Though Napoleon and Ilya start off hating each other, the chemistry is there, and it's palpable. From heated fights about '60s mod fashion to discussions about how best to torture information out of a guy, Napoleon and Ilya's spy mission collaboration is nothing short of hilarious and riveting — something that results in a great film that feels entirely like a love letter to the whole spy film genre.
The Man From U.N.C.L.E. hits theaters nationwide on August 14. Check out the film's stars, Cavill and Hammer, talking what drew them to the film, just how much the original series relates, and, yes: The best brand of flip-flops.
Image: Warner Bros.
