Operation Mincemeat
Operation Mincemeat
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Operation Mincemeat is a British World War II drama based on an extraordinary true story, with questionable behavior for the greater good, dead bodies, and smoking. The almost unbelievable story involves two British intelligence officers -- Ewen Montagu (Colin Firth) and Charles Cholmondeley (Matthew Macfadyen) -- using a corpse to distract the Nazis, allowing British troops to get to safety. The characters are flawed, and while very proud, dignified, and courageous, they resort to bribery and other dubious means. They also show little respect for the corpse they use for their plan and some scenes make for an uncomfortable watch, especially an autopsy scene. War and violence play in the background, with soldiers being shot at and killed. There is one scene where a straight man touches another man's genitals, to help move their operation along. There are a couple of uses of "f--k," as well as "bollocks" and "bastard." The smoking is non-stop, representative of the time period. There is much drinking too and one character is seen driving under the influence. The cast is not particular diverse, mostly made up of White males. But there are two leading roles belonging to women.
Community Reviews
Report this review
Good movie but beware explicit sex encounters
Report this review
What's the Story?
OPERATION MINCEMEAT tells a remarkable true story of espionage and deception. With World War II ongoing, a major battle is on the horizon in Sicily, and it's one that will cost the British army countless lives. So two intelligence officers, Ewen Montagu (Colin Firth) and Charles Cholmondeley (Matthew Macfadyen), come up with a plan -- to divert the Germans to Greece, and allow the British soldiers onto shore with minimal obstruction. The plan is to ensure a planted corpse washes up on a beach containing fake documents. What could possibly go wrong?
Is It Any Good?
This drama -- based on real events -- is such a brilliantly cinematic story, it almost feels as if it would have been impossible to get wrong. That said, Operation Mincemeat still required an accomplished, deft hand to bring it to life, and do it the justice it deserves. Thankfully director John Madden more than delivers. Helped along by the great cast, with Macfadyen in particular stealing the show, the film moves seamlessly between different genres. Given it's a tale that is so enriched by its hard-to-believe elements, the filmmakers have used this as a platform to take a heightened take on proceedings.
The film has stories within the story, and celebrates the entire notion of artistic deception. And yet, it's remarkably more moving than anticipated, as the whole operation, despite being so bombastic, is tinged with a profound sadness. Not only for the man whose body they're literally using for their own gain, but for the ongoing war, highlighting the mad lengths people will go to in a desperate bid to overcome fascism. Perhaps the one downside is that, tonally, it could have been even more overstated -- something rarely said about films. The story is so inconceivable, it almost feels like the filmmakers could have reveled more in its comedic moments, instead opting to take a more serious approach.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the historical context of Operation Mincemeat. Did you know anything about this story? Can you believe it's based on real events? Has the film inspired you to learn more about WWII? How to talk to kids about violence, crime, and war.
How was drinking and smoking depicted in the film? Were they glamorized? How has our behavior when it comes to drinking and smoking changed from when the movie was set?
Talk about the behavior of Montagu and Cholmondeley. Would you describe them as positive role models? Did you find anything they did questionable?
Movie Details
- In theaters: May 6, 2022
- On DVD or streaming: May 11, 2022
- Cast: Colin Firth, Matthew Macfadyen, Kelly Macdonald
- Director: John Madden
- Studio: Netflix
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: History
- Character Strengths: Courage, Teamwork
- Run time: 128 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: strong language, some sexual content, brief war violence, disturbing images, and smoking
- Last updated: May 27, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
-
Munich: The Edge of War
WWII spy thriller has positive messages, smoking, drinking.
-
Darkest Hour
Mild but talky look at Churchill's early days in power.
-
Dunkirk
Intense, challenging story shows the horrors of war.
For kids who love true stories
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate