Today’s quick review: Kingsman: The Secret Service. Eggsy (Taron Egerton), a talented youth with a troubled home life, receives the opportunity of a lifetime when Galahad (Colin Firth) invites him to become a Kingsman, a member of a secretive international spy ring. While Eggsy trains in spycraft, Galahad races to unravel the plot of Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson), a technology magnate with a radical plan to “save” the world.
Kingsman: The Secret Service is a spy action comedy directed by Matthew Vaughn. Kingsman presents a modern twist on the spy film, combining genre staples with tongue-in-cheek humor, a neophyte protagonist, and a heaping serving of violence. The result is an entertaining, if polarizing, romp that injects a new style of fun into a time-tested genre. The supporting cast includes Mark Hamill, Mark Strong, and Michael Caine.
Kingsman: The Secret Service has a number of well-executed components that let the film function as well as it does. Taron Egerton makes for a likable protagonist in Eggsy, a streetwise troublemaker with a good heart and demonstrable loyalty. Colin Firth plays opposite him as Galahad, a veteran Kingsman who challenges Eggsy to become someone more. Samuel L. Jackson rounds out the lead trio as Valentine, a goofy and subversive take on the Bond supervillain.
The film’s action is as impressive as its characters. Kingsman agents show all the bloody martial prowess of a modern action hero and all the panache of a classic gentleman spy. The two flavors blend together well, at least for those who like them individually. The action sequences are hectic, explicit, and lethal, built on a foundation of flashy martial arts, clever use of spy gadgets, and brutally efficient use of bullets and knives.
Kingsman’s sense of humor is rooted in its love for the spy genre. The universe embraces all the genre’s excesses, from overblown plots to destroy the world to secret agents capable of mowing down dozens of men without breaking a sweat. Good characters and a well-defined plot help keep the movie grounded while its more absurd elements go to work, creating a quirky yet satisfying world that never loses its fun.
However, Kingsman’s quality comes at a price. The movie has much more gore, swearing, and crude humor than James Bond, Mission: Impossible, or any of the classic spy franchises. Old-school fans might find that these additions taint the very fun and sense of adventure they are meant to foster. Those who don’t mind gore in their action will enjoy Kingsman’s tone, but those looking for an unadulterated take on the genre may find it off-putting.
Watch Kingsman: The Secret Service if you are a fan of violent action that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Kingsman is a well-conceived and well-executed movie that only requires accepting its somewhat jarring tone to enjoy. Skip it if you are averse to violence, value the innocence of the spy genre, or are looking for realism in your action.
7.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 to 8.0 for a creative premise, solid execution, and sheer fun.