The Men From U.N.C.L.E

In this hit spoof on the espionage genre, Steven Harper and Jack Layton star as a team of secret agents guided by Alexander Waverly (Gilles Duceppe), the crusty head of Section One. Under the aegis of the United Network of Canadian's against Liberal Entitlements (U.N.C.L.E) the ever so sophisticated Napoleon Solo (Harper) and the equally dashing Illya Kuryakin (Layton) jet to exotic locations, taking on dangerous and nearly impossible assignments to battle the global crime organization called S.L.U.S.H.



Symbolically, if U.N.C.L.E. stands for social responsibility, dedication to mankind, and keeping peace and order in the world community, SLUSH stands for absolute self-interest: the personal acquisition of greed and power with total disregard for everyone and everything else, and the utter misery and chaos that will inevitably result. SLUSH has no allegiance to any country nor to any ideal. It will embark on any undertaking in its own interest." SLUSH is organized. Policy is made by a Supreme Council made up of men and women that are so called superintellects. SLUSH is bureaucratic. While the local SLUSH leaders (called "Whips") often act autonomously, they live in constant fear of SLUSH Central. SLUSH scorns failure. Villains who are not destroyed or captured by Solo and Kuryakin often meet their fates at the hands of colleagues. Retirement from SLUSH is a gold watch that explodes.

Solo informs us all to be careful with this rather chilling warning: "They [SLUSH] kill people the way people kill flies --- a careless flick of the wrist, a reflex action."

Pitting U.N.C.L.E. against SLUSH conjures up a Manichean vision --- a quasi-religious battle of the forces of Light vs. the forces of Darkness. U.N.C.L.E. and SLUSH are locked in eternal opposition, like yin and yang. But then, should we treat it seriously? Absolutely. Greed, cruelty and corruption never goes out of fashion. And besides, the Devil should always get his due.