Adam Lark
With the release of Kingsman: The Golden Circle fast approaching, let us take a look at a truly welcomed creation that thrilled and divided audiences. Here is the review for Kingsman: The Secret Service. Before we get started… What a great time at the movies. That’s the spoiler here.
Many films, well let’s be honest, too many films have surrounded the spy genre since the inception. Be it every 007 film, be it the title Casino Royale in both Peter Sellers’ and Daniel Craig’s incarnations, Spy film parodies such as Austin Powers, great films such as Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy – you name it, have always been of so much interest surrounding the British spy novelty alone for decades. Granted, out of the plethora of 007 films, we would be lying if we did not find this genre fascinating. Who can be blamed? This is a sensational region of films that we all hold dear in one regard or many others. What with all the cool gadgets, the action, the female love interests, the espionage involved in yet every war that was fought below the radar of the public, HOLY SHIT, even now we love it more and more. Granted, so many spoof films of the genre besides our beloved Austin Powers franchise and even the offshoot Spy Hard with our love for Leslie Nielson made us chuckle, we still seek something as a straight-forward, intelligent funny spy that addresses the cracks in something that is perfect as seen in the greatest of spy films. Kingsman is a genre bender that is abosolutely welcomed. Ordinarily in my reviews, I would love to keep it simple, concise. Thus, it will be no different here. A quick read just in time for Kingsman: The Golden Circle, coming out on September 22nd 2017.
Me, personally, hated the latest Bond voyage, Spectre. MY GOD, so terrible. However, do not allow me to sway you on that, fan or not. We are here to talk about what was done perfectly within the genres of spy film, action, comedy and mere bliss of carnage. Kingsman: The Secret Service possessed so many elements of the archetype: the gadgets, the suave nature of the characters, the betrayals, beautiful visuals, as well as needed unconventional ones that address where the failures of past spy films are and improve on them tenfold. For one, it is definitely cynical. The good guy does not have the perfect aim, the villain is visually allergic to blood (a hilarious addendum to the genre), the love interest(s) are baited in such a clever way that you know that the agent, Eggsy, is indeed that Spy character that we love for his serial monogamy and never treads around it. Let’s get down to the substance. The plot is so fucking good, SO good that I rarely, if ever, can pick apart any film even ones that I love. Given the subject matter, I cannot dream of any better launchpad of imagination into this universe as well as its rare ability to humanize the main character in such a chaotic world.
I mean, this took so much to implore such a tragic and relatable backstory to what we see in our heroes as British spies. You know? The ones trained to the apex of human abilities, recklessness with any domino effect imploring their favor, but no relatable subjugated form of humanity at the plot’s disposal unless it had to do with the intelligence agencies on screen. Such an impressive feat for a film that is this incredible and does not distract from the gratuitous violence as a love letter to every great film it never pretentiously honors.
The violence blessed our hearts with a tint of the Coen Brothers’ love of susceptible deaths of characters for comedic effect, a love of the visually intoxicating creations of the violence and the cool, badass qualities every character possessed. The humor slams you in the head, right on target. Every joke works. The material it used for shock humor, it works every time. Every time something cool is about to happen, it becomes awesome. The music and soundtrack play like a marauding force to execute each scene. The characters, the visuals, the story, the self-awareness? A++. There are certain ways to really handle a great deal of self-awareness. There are films that certainly get an F for this. (Check out my review for Alien: Covenant, a film that had years to learn yet cannot seem to get how these films are to be self-referential successuly, at the least. http://snoocher.com/adam-lark-reviews-alien-covenant/)
My only gripe with the Kingsman: The Secret Service? … Nope, there are none. Is it perfect? No, Kingsman never had to be with all of the satire aimed at the perceived greatness of so many spy films from the past. It was never for one second distracting enough to warrant any bad news about it. Out of the grand genre of Spy Films, any possible gripe upon viewing is forgiven out of how many corrections to previous films within the genre have existed. HOLY SHIT, Kingsman does everything right with its intentions to be action packed and just as importantly, Kingsman: The Secret Service KNEW what it was doing to parody itself and righteously pokes fun at the not-so-subtle suspensions of disbelief we always had to endure with the genre.
So, to conclude my review of Kingsman: The Secret Service (and trust me, being this concise was a battle all its own), this is the greatest spy film of the 21st century and is one of the best examples of an homage to any genre or idea in cinema I have ever witnessed. I cannot wait until the next installment! As “Manners. Maketh. Man.” Such a great callback to the past and a welcomed addendum to the spy genre going forward as the excitement we all feel awaits for Kingsman: The Golden Circle.
Lark Score: 10/10
