Based on the comic book The Secret Service by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons, Matthew Vaughan’s Kingsman is a crossbreed of James Bond, Mission Impossible and the never-failing to charm English double-breasted suits, in perpetual vogue.
My initial reaction cried out that the film lacked a story, plot and was a comical spoof on the secret services of a nation that took pride in its sophisticated, edge-of-technology trained spy skills (read M I 5); yet at the heart of this creation lay that one ‘something’ which intrigued me to a point of thrill: loyalty.
I believe that there are two things which have placed itself on the ‘endangered, rare species’ list: one time and the other loyalty. From the days of Mata Hari to this century there have been such differential transitions; for the better or worse, I leave you to judge that.
Coming back to our film, it centers around master spy Harry Hart/ Galahad (Colin Firth) who needs to find, train and polish into finesse a fresh candidate for the ‘Kingsman’ (read king’s men) an independent spy agency entrusted with the safety of millions of people globally.
His most trusted friend and partner’s biological son Eggsy (Taron Egerton) who faces an abusive father and a confused mother, has now come of age and could be the ideal choice, but for his un-English mannerisms.
Yet Galahad will not give up and is able to get the bloke into the vigorous training session, at the end of which will be chosen the new ‘kingsman’.
Of course there are strong women candidates too, one must not be gender-biased these days and our little Eggsy is actually no match pitted against the moves, curves and the logical brains- he’s what should I say, our Johnny Bravo crossed with a Popeye- straight out of the animated series.
And who do we have as the heavy-lisped villain, none other than Valentine (Samuel L Jackson), the new age internet guru who for a constant companion has Gazelle (Sofia Boutella) ready to lift her legs (no puns intended) and slice one in half- she has blades for feet!
Valentine gives away free sim cards with a bonus of gratis cellular and internet services, even as he continues to meet VVIP Heads of State, some of whom disappear and there’s not a trace of them.
English styles, English mannerisms, English spies, English suits….well they could have just had Downton Abbey and it would have settled matters! Why go painstakingly into creating a spy-recruitment-agent, lobbying to train a-damn-lost-cause-in-life?
But herein lies the answer, it’s the loyalty towards the profession and country which makes a man want his son-like lad, do the same what he has been doing, basically kicking-ass.
I think Kingsman offers no serious story, nor plot, it just goes with the flow, the fun and the action. Relaxingly entertaining!
3/5