Kingsman The Secret Service Thrills and Titillates (Movie Review)
After last week’s dismal screening of Jupiter Ascending I was just about ready to write the remainder of this month off from both attending and reviewing movies. My experience with that film was that bad. I was embarrassed by that $175 million dollar effort, even though I really had nothing to do with it. However, there were two things that sold me on this past Tuesday night’s screening of Kingsman The Secret Service, that infectious Rob Zombie song (one of my favorites from his newest album) employed in the trailer and the positive words of praise from WSB reviewer Aaron Neuwirth, whose full theatrical review of this film can be found here.
As far as I’m concerned, Aaron already grabbed the most appropriate title with his review of the Kingsman so I guess you can say mine unimaginably captures my state of euphoria I felt as Kori and I walked out of the theater Tuesday night. I just had a very fun time with this movie, much akin to my sentiments of how I felt exiting John Wick, but a bit different. Kingsman is not straight up revenge like Wick was. The best way I can describe it is as an adult version of Kick-Ass mixed with the familiar genre bending spoofs, gadgets and plot devices of old school Bond films. You have all the right ingredients of the latter at least. The former, well…we’ll get into a bit more detail about that remark down below. So hold your horses!
Kingsman The Secret Service is what I guess would most appropriately be called a spy-action-comedy film. It’s directed by none other than Matthew Vaughn and based of the comic book The Secret Service penned by none other than Mark Millar. If those two names sound familiar, they should…hence my Kick-Ass references up above. Most notably, Vaughn actually dropped out of X-Men: Days of Future Past to adapt and direct this property and if all goes well at the box office, he’s also on board for the sequel he already said. So you know this man stands behind this property. The film’s cast includes Colin Firth, Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Strong, Taron Egerton, Sofia Boutella and Michael Caine.
Kingsman The Secret Service starts off by introducing us to one very brave man and then fast forwards 17 years later. As you can decipher from the movie’s trailer, it’s a story about a troubled boy, that being Eggsy (Egerton). After getting into some trouble with authorities he is introduced to secret agent Harry Hart (Firth). It’s here that Eggsy is introduced to the world of the secret agency we’re all gathered here to learn more about. Meanwhile, one of Harry’s peers meets an unfortunate demise at the “legs” of a bionic-legged assassin named Gazelle (Boutella). That creates a vacancy in the agency. Therefore, we now have tryouts! Let the fun and games of Act 2 begin, ladies and gentlemen. Of course there’s a lot more that transpires, but I don’t want to spoil a single moment for you, which is why I don’t make mention of a certain legendary sci-fi actor making an appearance in this one. Simply put, like all great spy adventure movies plot-wise, you have a lunatic, diabolical villain and a unlikely protagonist trying to grow up and save the world at the same. What more do you need folks? Gadgets? Oh yes! There are gadgets! Moving on…
Admittedly so, Samuel Jackson’s character in the trailer originally turned me off from this film, but I’m so glad I gave it a chance as if you base this movie by its cover, you really don’t understand as to what extent Jackson’s character is utilized, nor do you realize the comedy this character brings into the fold either. His speech alone will crack you up. No matter how you slice it, I would find it very hard not to have a good time with Kingsman The Secret Service. There are so many reasons as to why you would enjoy this one. However, if you don’t mind, I would like to switch gears for a moment and talk about the outrageous action this flick offers.
I have to say, this is my favorite Colin Firth outing ever. His performance is t1ts here as he truly embodies and outright owns the role of a secret agent believably. Now I make my Kick-Ass references not only because of the men behind the creative side of this film, but also of the zany, outrageous action sequences employed too and wow are they ever spectacular. All I will say is besides last year’s Raid 2 and certain John Wick scenes, there is one action fight sequence in particular here that had the whole audience clapping and quite honestly earned 4-stars right then and there from me and I’m happy to say the stoic Colin Firth was in the heart of it all.
Forget that it’s the month of February for movies. Go out there and support this R-rated thrill ride. If your’e a fan of the spy genre, love old school Bond lore and appreciate over-the-top action sequences (think zany Kick-Ass style), the Kingsman The Secret Service is right for you! I love the way the movie is so self-aware of itself and constantly reminds us through its witty dialogue and smartly written script how a movie such as this would unimaginably unfold in the grand scheme of the genre. Kingsman The Secret Service takes no prisoners and is definitely not afraid to point fun at itself and for all these reasons and so many more that I can’t go into here, it’s a fun ride for everyone (of course not for little kiddies if can be helped). Sure it’s ridiculous at times, and a lot of original Adidas clothing is being thrown in your face, but all in all, I’ll never look at McDonald’s the same way ever again and it’s a slickly executed spy adventure with a hefty dose of craziness mixed in for extra guilty pleasure to ensure you leave with a smile. It just works! I can’t say the same for last week’s Jupiter Ascending, can you, Stan?
Brian White
Owner/Writer/Reviewer/Editor, Dreamer, Producer, Agent of Love, Film Lover, Writer of Screenplays and a Devoted Apostle to all things Ford Mustangs (the real ones with V8's!). Some of my favorite films include FIGHT CLUB, MOULIN ROUGE, THE DARK KNIGHT, STAR WARS alongside television shows such as SEINFELD, 24, SANFORD & SON and even the often loathed in the geek community BIG BANG THEORY. Outside of my three lives I live I also enjoy spending time with my girlfriend and our three girls (of the furry kind).
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