Movie Review
Review Kingsman : The Secret Service
This movie was so cool! It's not just a hilarious parody of the spy genre, James Bond in particular, but it's one of the consistently entertaining and thrilling films I've seen in years. With an absolutely enthralling story, that goes beyond just taking the mick out of spy movie clichés, brilliant performances, epic special effects, massively exciting action and absolutely stunning direction, this is a movie that lets you be entertained to the max.
Harry Hart (Colin Firth) is an agent with a super-secret undercover organization hidden behind the façade of an exclusive tailor's outlet in London. When one of the Kingsman agents is killed in action, a brief, intensive selection process begins through which a replacement will be found. Whilst the majority of the potential recruits are public school educated and born with silver spoons in their mouths, Harry's proposition is Gary 'Eggsy' Unwin (Taron Egerton), a streetwise kid from the wrong side of town and a pitiful history. With death or expulsion the penalty for failing each task, Eggsy battles prejudice as well as aptitude tests in a bid to become a Kingsman.
What a blast. From beginning to end, this movie is entertaining. And this is mostly thanks to the actors rounded up here. Colin Firth brings his usual wonderful skills as an actor, but it's his combat skills that make him so entertaining. Essentially the old fashioned James Bond of the movie, Firth is as suave as ever, but he also commits violence that goes unparalleled in the movie. This is most demonstrated in one of the movie's biggest set pieces, taking place at a southern church which was briefly shown in the trailer. He steals the show, but the surrounding performances are just as great. Taron Egerton, a stranger to the States, is excellent as Eggsy. While this could have been a character who came off as thuggish and criminal, Eggsy is actually quite sympathetic from early in the movie. He's clearly smart and a guy who wants to protect his mum and see her have a better life. However, like so many these days, he feels burdened by his lot in life and it has turned him into a less than stellar citizen. His transformation from a troubled kid to a master spy is incredibly entertaining and combines the charm and sophistication of the typical spy movie with the rough edge of a street level action movie. Sam Jackson brings the ham as an unusual villain, Mark Strong plays one of the most entertaining characters in the movie as the youngsters spy trainer, and Michael Caine appears as the head of Kingsman, bringing his usual mix of seasoned professionalism and sense of fun.
Kingsman is certainly a very fun movie, full of lots of great actors, old and new alike. It's brave and unapologetic in it's mockery and depiction of violence, and that makes it an extremely entertaining watch, despite it's faults. It's bloody hilarious, and hilariously bloody.
It's something of a surprise to find this movie playing in a month usually reserved for movies studios have little faith in. This is summer blockbuster material and fantastic entertainment.
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