I tried to convince them to see “The Lazarus Effect.” The whole gentleman spy genre does not really appeal to me, so when my friends decided on “Kingsman: The Secret Service,” I was reluctant but willing to give it a go. I watched the trailer a few months back and did not remember anything special, just fighting, explosions and all the other typical action movie attributes. However, “Kingsman” wound up being a multifaceted film with potential to entertain all types of audiences.
Originally formed by tailors who lost their heirs to World War I, “Kingsman” is a secret service/gentleman spy troupe that silently triumphs over evil around the world. When one of their members is murdered, each of the agents must offer a possible replacement. The plot is framed when Harry “Galahad” Hart suggests Gary “Eggsy” Unwin a troubled, mischievous kid. Hart owes Eggsy and his mom a favor of their choosing, due to a certain circumstance that is revealed in the first scene of the movie.
Eggsy is played by Taron Egerton. I never heard the name prior, and after looking him up on IMDb, expecting to find a long resume of British action movies, I soon realized that “Kingsman” was the young actor’s big breakthrough. However, with his performance in the role, you would not think so. Egerton’s finesse reminded of the ever-charming Douglas Booth, and I was quickly won over by his endearing and engaging appeal along with, judging by their reaction, many other theatergoers as well. Egerton managed to balance the smug punk vibe with unsung hero potential, creating an incredibly charismatic, clever and likeable character to carry the audience through the movie. Colin Firth, in his role as Hart, complemented Egerton in a nice role model, father figure kind of way. Samuel L. Jackson was the quirky villain “Valentine,” stealing laughs even in the most intense of scenes. Based on a graphic novel by the same writer of “Kickass,” “Kingsman” is directed by Matthew Vaughn, also credited for “X-Men: First Class.”
The goal of “Kingsman” was to reimagine the cliché spy flick. In many scenes, characters made direct reference to “what is supposed to happen here” based on these existing James Bond archetypes. However, the film also touches on deeper concepts, such as abusive relationships, the infiltration of technology into society, and, most prominently, the divide between the have and the have-nots. Commoner Eggsy is often placed among aristocratic competitors who tease his societal standing, thinking less of him and his skills. Even though, in classic blockbuster style, the underdog saves the day, “Kingsman” spits extensive commentary on the struggle to overcome lower class boundaries and the interaction between the rich and the poor. “Being a Kingsman has nothing to do with the circumstances of one’s birth,” Hart says at one point. “If you’re prepared to adapt and learn, you can transform.”
“Kingsman” proved to be unique by grouping awesome fight scenes (decently gory, my inner horror movie fan was happy), intriguing spy gadgets which include fancy umbrellas and posh pens as weapons, and humor appropriately drizzled from beginning to end. Visually, the film was well done (and, I will be honest, Egerton was nice on the eyes as well), and London as a setting was the perfect backdrop.
“I love the soundtrack, the action was spectacular, the effects were amazing, and it was funny,” first-year student and avid movie watcher Connie J. Miranda said right after seeing “Kingsman.” “I will see it again.”
Overall, “Kingsman” successfully turned around the stereotyped gentleman spy plot to create a versatile and accessible movie that a variety of audiences can easily enjoy.
Information from this article was taken from www.imdb.com .