Kingsman: The Secret Service

MOVIE REVIEW
The Pride of the British
By CATHERINE GAY

Do the British finally have a spy thriller to be proud of? Kingsman: The Secret Service has all the appearances of a very suave and classy spy film filled with astute gadgets and cleverly coined phrases such as “manners maketh man.” However, has Matthew Vaughn created a movie to maketh his fellow Englishmen proud?

Based on a comic book by Mark Miller, Kingsman: The Secret Service narrates the dramatic transformation of Gary ‘Eggsy’ Unwin (Taron Egerton) from a hardened street kid to a slick spy fighting to save the world from Valentine (Samuel Jackson), who wishes to destroy the Earth’s population in a desperate attempt to save the environment. It also dabbles with the idea that anyone can be a hero if he sees himself as “a man with potential” despite one’s background and class. The themes, however, were cut short of their full potential to make way for the action sequences. 

The “Secret Service” is a creative play off of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. "Arthur" (Michael Caine) leads this significantly richer and more technologically advanced version of the band as they fight for peace and harmony in bulletproof suits between bouts of champagne and gin.  

Egerton makes his stellar international debut as the protege of Harry Hart (Colin Firth), an esteemed ‘knight’ in ‘Arthur’s’ company. Together they add the much-needed comic relief. Each displays comedic talent at different times as one thanks Valentine for a “happy” happy meal from McDonald’s while the other cannot come to grips that he has chosen a pug as his companion-in-training, thinking it to be a guard dog. 

Jackson and his evil henchwoman, Gazelle (Sofia Boutella), are the complementary, deadly duo. Jackson provides some humour as he professes abhorrence for the sight of blood while contemplating letting the world tear itself to pieces. Boutella does his dirty work admirably by slicing people in half and then “cleaning up” so her boss will not become queasy. 

For the most part, the technical aspects of Kingsman: The Secret Service add an artistic flair that enhances the film. The rubble from a building creatively constructs the beginning credits and the flurries from a snowglobe introduces the movie title. Nonetheless, the heads being blown off shoulders for comedic effect and the massacre in the Church are excessive and taint the overall production. 

Graphic violence, excessive coarse language and unnecessary sexual innuendo should make Christian audiences cringe. While the film’s plot has great potential, Matthew Vaughn fails to effectively deliver as his emphasis is on gory detail instead of plot enhancement. 

Despite portraying some less than admirable characteristics, Kingsman: The Secret Service will charm audiences worldwide with its witty humour and undoubtedly English style.