The Union: Big, Dumb, and Perfect for Netflix

Netflix’s sweet spot is the kind of movie you throw on when you’re half-paying attention while scrolling through your phone, or when you just want to relax and not think too hard. That’s The Union in a nutshell.

Let’s get this out of the way upfront: The Union is not a movie you’re going to rave about at dinner parties. In fact, it’s the kind of film where you’ll probably forget half of it the minute the credits roll. But you know what? That’s exactly why it works—and why it's the perfect Netflix movie.

If you’re expecting a deep, thought-provoking experience, this isn’t it. The Union is a textbook example of big, dumb, and expensive action-comedy, and it embraces that label without shame. It's loud, packed with explosions, and stars a couple of famous faces you’ve seen in better movies. Yet somehow, it’s exactly what people keep clicking on.

Let’s talk about The Netflix Formula for a second. Ever noticed how their top-viewed movies are often just... "meh"? We’re not talking about Oscar-winning cinema here. Netflix’s sweet spot is the kind of movie you throw on when you’re half-paying attention while scrolling through your phone, or when you just want to relax and not think too hard. That’s The Union in a nutshell.

From the cheesy one-liners to the over-the-top action scenes, The Union isn’t trying to be clever or innovative. It’s just there to fill 2 hours of your life with mindless entertainment. And honestly, sometimes that’s exactly what you want. You’ve had a long week, you don’t want to work too hard to enjoy a movie. You just want to hit play, sit back, and zone out.

The plot? Right, I guess we should talk about that. But don’t worry, you won’t need to keep notes. The premise is simple: an unlikely duo teams up to save the world from some generic threat, cue lots of explosions and awkward banter. You’ve seen it a hundred times before, and The Union doesn’t stray far from the formula. In fact, it leans into it like a pro.

There’s nothing original here, and that’s kind of the point. This isn’t a film trying to break boundaries or challenge the status quo. It’s comfort food for action movie fans, designed to be as easily digestible as possible.

The Union ropes in some big names—actors you’ll recognize instantly, but who aren’t exactly in their prime right now. They’re here for the paycheck, and it shows. But again, that’s part of the Netflix appeal. You don’t expect Oscar-worthy performances; you just want a familiar face to make the ride more enjoyable.

Their performances are serviceable. They hit their marks, deliver their lines, and look good doing it. And for a film like this, that’s really all you need. No one’s gunning for awards here—they’re just here to keep you entertained for a couple of hours, and honestly, that’s good enough.

So, why do we keep watching movies like The Union? It’s a question worth asking. Is it the algorithm? Is it our need for background noise while we multitask? Or is it just that sometimes we’re not looking for the next Inception or Parasite? Sometimes we just want something easy and fun to watch.

There’s something comforting about The Union. It’s the movie equivalent of junk food. You know it’s not great, but it’s satisfying in the moment. There’s no deep emotional investment, no complex character arcs to follow. It’s simple, straightforward entertainment that demands nothing from you, except to hit play.

Here’s the thing: The Union may not be “good” in the traditional sense, but it’s perfect for those lazy weekends when you don’t want to think too hard. It’s the kind of movie you can watch with friends, talk over, laugh at, and forget about as soon as it’s over. And for Netflix, that’s a win.

So yeah, The Union isn’t a masterpiece. It’s not trying to be. It’s big, dumb, and forgettable—and that’s exactly what makes it perfect for Netflix. Sometimes, you just want to be entertained without having to think too much. And if that’s what you’re looking for, then this is the movie for you.

Just don’t expect to remember much about it by next weekend.