Summary
- The missed kiss in The Union was an intentional choice to build anticipation for a potential trilogy of films with Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry.
- The chemistry between Wahlberg and Berry, combined with the success of the first film, has left the possibility of a Union 2 wide open.
- Despite some negative reviews and lukewarm reception, the allure of a Mark Wahlberg-Halle Berry sequel hinges on audience interest.
The most recent Netflix movie to climb to the top of the charts, The Union, has had many tuning in for the romantic pairing of two icons on the screen: Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry. Yet the spy-thriller with a rom-com twist has left many wanting more, specifically in the romance department. The lingering question is, why did the two not land that kiss despite their chemistry and the romantic overtones of the movie?
The truth has been revealed about why this pivotal scene was omitted. Here, we will look at the reasoning behind not having that kiss between Wahlberg and Berry and if viewers can expect it to happen down the line, or, if The Union is bound to sizzle out under some harsh critiques, ensuring that that opportunity will never rise again.
What Is The Union About?
A construction worker from New Jersey, Mike McKenna (Mark Wahlberg), is pulled into the world of espionage when his high school sweetheart, Roxanne Hall (Halle Berry), who is part of a group known as “The Union,” reaches out to him for help. At first, hesitant to help Roxanne stop a terrorist organization bent on releasing the information of all secret agents, Mike is dragged against his will to London. Mike and Roxanne dive deep into the world of espionage, but as they put their lives on the line, a romance also begins to blossom.
The Union stars Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry as Mike and Rose, the unlikely duo set to stop a terrorist organization. The supporting cast includes J.K. Simmons, Mike Colter, Alice Lee, Jessica De Gouw, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Jackie Earle Haley, Lucy Cork, and Patch Darragh.
The movie was directed by Patch Darragh, who is best known for his work in TV, including his work on the phenomenal TV miniseriesGiri/Haji and the made-for-TV movie The Child in Time. The Union made its debut on Netflix on August 16th.
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Why Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry Don’t Kiss The Union
Director Julian Farino cleared the air around the question that many viewers of The Union have had when, despite being a rom-com spy thriller, the two main characters never have that shared kiss that was expected.
In an interview with Variety, Julian Farino was not surprised by the question, given the chemistry between the two. While he admitted it was debated whether to make the moment happen, they ultimately decided against it. In a case of wanting to leave the fans wanting more, the idea of having the characters lock lips was nixed, with the hope that the movie would result in a trilogy that would build up to the moment.
“We took the relationship to a certain point, and then I think you need to leave a lot of room to explore. Netflix, when we started, told us: ‘You need to think of this as a possible idea for three films. So if the audience is left wanting to see a kiss, we’ve probably done well, or at least that’s my opinion.“
It’s quite the tease and one that is banking on the movie seeing enough success to garner interest for a trilogy. Thankfully, for fans of the thriller rom-com, a trilogy is possible, albeit with a few challenges to get to that point.
Will The Union 2 Happen?
With news coming that The Union had topped Netflix’s streaming charts, the future is looking rather bright for the Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry vehicle. The positive here comes from moments of sleek action and an undeniable chemistry between Berry and Wahlberg being the primary draw. Of course, the two stars appearing prominently on the poster which Netflix has been plopping front and center of their new titles certainly didn’t hurt to lure viewers.
Does this mean we will get a Union 2? Netflix has a history of canceling beloved shows and movies, so nothing is guaranteed. However, the most significant thing holding it back is the audience and critical reception the movie has seen; The Union is currently sitting at a 37% rotten score with critics and a 23% popcorn meter with fans.
The consensus is that the talent of both actors is largely wasted in a formulaic story driven by a mediocre script. Both fans and critics found the work extremely inconsistent, with the few great moments underscored by tedium and the expensive production values sometimes squandered in uninspiring sequences.
There have been harsher words shared about The Union, and the movie seems to be overwhelmingly disliked by those who watched it. Will Netflix want to invest in a sequel if there is a chance people won’t come again after horrible reviews all around? Time will tell, but audiences who wanted that kiss between Wahlberg and Berry may never get it.
