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For moviegoers who would love for Colin Firth to play James Bond, “Kingsman: The Secret Service” is the next best thing.
Much like the 007 classics, the film revels in its sheer ridiculousness, sucking viewers out of the real world and immersing them into a super spy fantasy. Combining stellar action scenes with an all-star cast, the movie overcomes its flaws to provide a delightful, popcorn flick experience.
The plot itself is simple. When a member of an elite British spy organization dies in action, veteran agent Harry Hart (Firth) must find a replacement. The recruit he takes under his wing is Eggsy (Taron Egerton), a cocky, reckless teenager and the son of a former Kingsman.
Meanwhile, a corporate madman named Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson) spells trouble for the agency. Before Eggsy can complete his training, he and Hart must foil this villain’s sinister plot and prevent his widespread killing spree.
If that sounds like the most cliche storyline imaginable, it’s because it is, and it’s intentional. Director Matthew Vaughn and company deliver a throwback to the age of fantastical spy thrillers. The film is as much a commentary on these movies as it is on the more gritty ones seen in modern times.
In one scene where Hart visits Valentine in his home, Valentine asks him if he likes spy movies. Hart tells him that he only likes the absurd classics, adding that the ones today are “too serious.”
“Kingsman” is certainly not the latter. Characters perform impossible physical feats, fight with an array of advanced gadgets and are able to dodge bullets in a manner that would impress Neo from “The Matrix.”
With his previous directing credits including “Kick-Ass” and “X-Men: First Class,” Vaughn has proven himself a master of stylized action sequences. His use of symmetrical shots, cross-cutting and bright colors within each frame coincide well with the film’s energetic tone.
The way the images move parallels the style of the Mark Millar comic book, which the film is based on, allowing Vaughn to produce continuous cinematic flare.
Like “Kick-Ass,” which also stems from Millar’s imagination, “Kingsman” remains faithful to the source material. The script by Vaughn and co-screenwriter Jane Goldman flows nicely, contains witty dialogue and is appropriately paced.
If anything, the film could’ve benefitted from more humor and more surprises. While “Kick-Ass” also plays on cliches, it does so in a more inventive manner and is brilliantly comedic. Though “Kingsman” has its laughs, there are no real surprises in the end.
Coming from more serious roles, Firth steps right into the shoes of the movie’s Obi-Wan figure and it’s clear he has a lot of fun with this one. His catchphrase, “Manners maketh man,” is spot on and correlates well with the movie’s thematic material.
Egerton’s feature-length debut performance is solid, making for some effective chemistry between him and Firth. His character is slick, full of himself and undergoes a befitting arc over the course of the movie toward becoming a hero.
Supporting cast members include Michael Caine as the agency’s director, Mark Strong as another agent, and we even get a Mark Hamill cameo. Needless to say, nerds will love this movie.
While “Kingsman: The Secret Service” could’ve contained more surprises and a less abrupt ending, the final product is an entertaining display of ridiculousness that film lovers can easily immerse themselves in.