All the Queen's Men

Watch All the Queen's Men

"War is a Drag"
  • PG-13
  • 2001
  • 1 hr 39 min
  • 4.8  (2,710)
  • 19

All The Queen's Men is a comedic war film from 2001, starring Eddie Izzard, Matt LeBlanc, and Udo Kier. Set during World War II, the movie follows the journey of a group of British soldiers who embark on a top-secret mission to infiltrate a German factory and steal Enigma code machines. The Enigma machines were being used by the Germans to encrypt their messages, and successfully decoding these messages would give the British access to vital intelligence about their enemy's movements and plans.

The film starts with Izzard's character, Tony, and his comrades in the British Army. The troops are assigned a singular and incredibly high-stakes mission: to sneak into a German factory where Enigma code machines are being produced and steal them. They are tasked with this mission because they're fluent in the German language and capable of infiltrating the factory without being detected.

But there's a catch: the soldiers must pose as women because the Germans, who outnumber the advancing Allied troops, are expecting a group of female factory workers arriving soon to work in their factory. Tony, LeBlanc's character, Matt, and the rest of the team are forced to dress in drag, putting on wigs, make-up, and women's clothing.

Initially, the soldiers are reluctant to take on this disguise, but their commitment to the mission and the potential reward for success convinces them to go ahead with the plan. The team lands in a German occupied town and proceeds to the factory, disguising themselves as women without arousing suspicion. Once inside the factory, they face challenge after challenge, as they try to extract the machines without getting caught.

The group encounters Frank, played by Udo Kier, a Nazi soldier and a factory supervisor. He takes an interest in Tony, believing her to be a woman, and starts to pursue her romantically. At the same time, Tony is grappling with her feelings, and the group continues their mission to find the Enigma machines.

Despite the perilous threat of being caught, Tony and her team pushed on their mission, breaking into the factory and evacuating the crucial machines from German territory. During their mission, they were able to secure important intelligence that helped the Allied forces in their missions, and they all agreed with it being a mission worth any cost.

All The Queen's Men is a surprisingly entertaining movie that combines comedic elements with the high-stakes drama of wartime. The unlikely crossdress gang of soldiers have their amusing moments throughout the film, but the tension never drops. All the actors in the movie are impressive, and the camaraderie between Tony and her team feels authentic.

Perhaps one of the film's strengths lies in its ability to skillfully blend humor with the more serious themes of the war. The film's comedic sequences, while somewhat exaggerated and slapstick, are never out of place and tend to break up the intensity of the situations. The drag queen disguise and comedic scenes are downright hilarious, and the audience can't help but laugh out loud.

The movie was well-received, but it drew in a limited audience. It wasn't a massive commercial success, which is disappointing, as it is an entertaining and enjoyable film with a unique premise. All the Queen's Men is an excellent choice for people who enjoy movies that offer a mix of laughter and tension. It may not be a movie that would appeal to everyone, but it is worth watching, especially if you're fond of comedies that are set in unique and interesting contexts.

All the Queen's Men
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Description
  • Release Date
    2001
  • MPAA Rating
    PG-13
  • Runtime
    1 hr 39 min
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    4.8  (2,710)
  • Metascore
    19