Director: Matthew Vaughn
Cast: Colin Firth, Taron Egerton, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Caine, Mark Strong, Sofia Boutella and Sophie Cookson
Certificate: 15
Run Time: 129 Minutes
In recent times, Matthew Vaughn has become known and associated with two particular things. One of which is his collaborative relationship with Gary Barlow, and the other is his unique directorial style. Thankfully, it’s fair to say that this visual and narrative flair is certainly present and accounted for in Kingsman: The Secret Service.
With Kick-Ass and X-Men: First Class already under his critically-acclaimed belt, Vaughn has returned after a 4-year hiatus in lavish, martini-drinking style. Many moviegoer’s across the globe would agree that in recent years, Hollywood blockbusters have taken a decidedly dark turn. This is undoubtedly a by-product of Christopher Nolan’s gritty filmmaking style, popularised (of course) by The Dark Knight...for better or worse. However, for those seeking something a little bit more light-hearted and easy going, Kingsman will be a breath of fresh air.
Working once more with Kick-Ass writer’s Mark Miller (who wrote the graphic novel) and frequent collaborator Jane Goldman, Vaughn is clearly in his element here. Making no secret of his passion and love for everyone’s favourite British spy, the film pays homage to classic 007 whilst simultaneously updating it for modern audiences. Although having said that, this should not be confused with Daniel Craig’s modern-day Bond adaptations. With social class, politics and modern distribution of wealth playing a large part in the narrative, the film tells a story that is both original and culturally relevant to British life.
Kingsman: The Secret Service is the tale of young man Eggsy (Egerton), who finds himself on the wrong side of life, with his abusive stepfather, poverty-stricken mother and lethargic friends landing him in frequent trouble. Thankfully, a secret agent, Harry Hart (Firth), realises his potential and recruits Eggsy to join a covert organisation known as the ‘Kingsman’.
Sadly, the film is not perfect and its political motivations may come across as slightly on-the-nose to some audience members. With its (occasionally) cartoonish violence also something that may cause a few eyebrow’s to raise. However, Kingsman will be a delight to fans of classic spy movies longing for the end of the 21st century ‘Bourne’ effect on the genre. This is solidified by brilliant and often hilarious references to the era of yesteryear, with Samuel L. Jackson’s character frequently comparing sequences to classic Bond scenarios.
The standout star of the film is almost-certainly Colin Firth however, with Hart consistently stealing every scene he included in. This is especially impressive for Firth, an actor traditionally known for Oscar-winning dramas, to prove that he can seamlessly transition into a very likeable action hero. Taron Egerton should also be given a huge applause for his breakout role.
Vaughn’s spy-tribute not only displays the best church-set action sequence in big-screen history (among other things), but it also manages to inject some much-needed humour into an increasingly miserable market of Hollywood blockbusters. It will also be interesting to see if the film’s success raises the popularity and studio confidence in 15-rated action films, which is something viewers have definitely been crying out for. All that’s left to say is…roll on the sequel!
Kingsman: The Secret Service is available on UK DVD and Blu-ray from 8th June.
