REVIEW
If there is any lesson that you should walk away with after watching Kingsman: The Secret Service, it’s that style is not an option, even when the world is at stake. The newest film from Matthew Vaughn (Kick-Ass, X-Men: First Class) dives head first into the world of british espionage. When you think of spy movies, you think of debonair, smooth accents, nice suits and fantastical gadgets. Along with those you think of the villain, who arguably is more important than the hero, and a sexy femme fatale with extra emphasis on the fatal. Thankfully, Kingsman has all of these and handles them well. Where this film could have gone wrong is taking itself too seriously. I’m glad to say that this film stayed clear of that pitfall and instead was a fun adventure that knew what it wanted to be and had enough sense to wink to the audience with where it was coming from.
Kingsman follows Eggsy (Taron Egerton) a twenty-something marine dropout who in spite of his efforts can’t seem to overcome his own adversities. After having a run in with the law, he uses a phone number from the back of a medal he was given as a child with the promise of a favor. Once released from custody he meets Harry Hart (Colin Firth). Harry (codenamed Galahad) brings Eggsy into the fold as a vacancy has opened for the codename Lancelot. Meanwhile the a scheme to take care of a purposed population problem is underway by billionaire tech genius and megalomaniac Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson).
The cast was great across the bar. Colin Firth seemed the perfect fit for Harry Hart. He had the stature, style, everything you would expect of a proper gentleman. Behind this even tempered demeanor lays Galahad, a spy capable of incredible fighting skills and ingenuity that was a complete treat to watch. Seeing him switch from mild mannered to straight out bad-ass was fantastic and exhilarating. Newcomer Taron Egerton, who previously has only one film under his belt released on the BBC, made a strong first outing as Eggsy. His portrayal of a young man who wanted to do good but found himself always in the thick of things felt genuine. He did well to show the character’s softness with his mother and baby sister. His struggle to standby while his mother’s boyfriend mistreated her allowed him to have his insecurities. Egerton also let the youthful rebellion run rampant whether he was nicking a car or proving his worth in his new found world of espionage. The supporting cast of other Kingsman, including Michael Cain as Arthur and Sophie Cookson as Roxy, were great. I appreciated the relationship between Eggsy and Roxy being one of only friendship, a female role that wasn't primarily there for a romantic interest of the lead. The Kingsman were accompanied by the ever capable Mark Strong as Merlin.
Samuel L. Jackson has always been an enjoyable villain, and his Valentine (pronounced Valenteen) is no exception. Valentine was a fun bad guy for sure. What makes a villain good (usually), is their belief that what they are doing is for the greater good. What they are doing is justified by the results of their actions. What made Valentine fun was that he had this, but also acknowledged that he was playing the role of the bad guy and he was alright with it. I’m not sure who’s idea it was for Valentine to also have a lisp, but that only added to the character and it was a good choice. At his side was the deadly Gazelle (Sofia Boutella), his personal assistant and assassin with bladed prosthetic legs. She was a great addition to the cast and was amazing to watch. Her part also helped add to the over the top action. How could you go wrong with an assassin with swords for legs?
As I earlier stated, Kingsman definitely had its own kind of swagger. The writing was good, allowing itself to have fun and never get overly serious. It had plenty of laughs and a good sprinkle of meta humor throughout, claiming its rightful place in the ranks among other spy franchises. It was also well shot with fantastic cinematography as well as great choreography. These two together really pushed the action and fighting sequences to a whole different level.
That Scene (spoilers to follow)
There is one scene in particular that I wanted to talk about on its own. While the whole film had a good balance of action, this scene was exceptional. I’m talking of course about the church scene. Valentine and Gazelle are testing the SIM cards for their master plan on a church that had to be strongly based on the real world Westboro Church. They put off a frequency that makes everyone in the place go into an all out, uncontrollable brawl. Galahad, there investigating, is taken in by it as well and the mayhem is incredible. This is a scene where shaky cam could have been the major downfall. Thankfully, though the scene was chaotic, there was never a moment that was not completely understandable and easy to follow. The camera movements were precise and captured the spectacle wonderfully. Watching Galahad move between combatants was fluid and seamless. The carnage was pronounced but never overdone, some of the most palatable impalements one could hope for. All taking place to the ever great Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd. I don’t think I’ll ever listen to that song the same way again.
(Spoilers End)
Kingsman: The Secret Service knew what it wanted to be and steered clear of the trappings that could have kept it from being so enjoyable. The action was fun, the characters were cool, and the plot was just convoluted enough to keep itself from getting too real and self serious. A great overall cast helped cement this as a franchise that could easily come back for more.
