This is a fun film along the lines of Men in Black. It is about a super-secret British spy service that takes on new agents only when one ‘retires’ (is killed). That’s when each Kingsman puts forth his nominee for the spot, and they undergo a series of grueling tests together to determine which one, and only one, has the right stuff. Kingsman ‘Galahad’ (Colin Firth) decides to groom a South London misfit called Gary ‘Eggsy’ Unwin (Taron Egerton). Meanwhile, a nefarious lisping villain, Richmond Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson), is busy implementing a plot to thin-out the earth’s population through mass destruction—with the help of a stiletto-wearing double-amputee with blades as prosthetic legs (Sofia Boutella). Before you roll your eyes (or think this sounds really cool), I have a spoiler alert: While this movie tries really hard to be smart, funny and cutting-edge, à la MIB, Fargo and Pulp Fiction, it doesn’t come close. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t entertaining, especially if exploding heads and green brain matter are your thing.
Should You See It? Yes, it’s fun. —DW
Viewed at Ronnie’s 20 Cine