Kingsman: The Secret Service – Movie Review by Eveleen Coyle

Director: Mathew Vaughan

Screenplay: Matthew Vaughan and Jane Goldman based on a comic book by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons

Starring: Taron Egerton, Colin Firth, Michael Caine, Samuel L Jackson, Sophie Cookson

The story:

Based on a comic book by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons.. The Kingsman: The Secret Service was founded by a group of wealthy English gentleman in the 1920s, many of whom lost their sons in the First World War; they wanted to do good work defending Britain, but do it discretely. Loyalty is central; their headquarters is in an elegant tailor’s shop in London.

Kingsman: The Secret Service is slick, engaging and entertaining and the casting is inspired. A super spy film that sends itself up, Kingsman is high energy, sheer unadulterated fun – suspend all belief and logic, just sit back and enjoy this one! It is of course a parody on Bond or even the early Avengers, and perhaps on English manners, fashion and traditions too in a very affectionate way. Michael Caine as the somewhat weary Arthur is the man in charge.

Welsh newcomer Taron Egerton gives a stunning performance as the young Eggsy, recuited by the madly English Kingsman veteran Harry Hart (Colin Firth). Eggsy is a boy who has gone astray in life following his father’s death when he was child and now he is in trouble with the law. Harry is the man responsible for the death of his fellow agent – Eggsy’s father – all those years ago. Along with a number of others, Eggsy must go through some gruelling paces to prove he is up for the task; there is only one place, only one person can qualify. In the end it comes down to him and his only friend among the rather posh candidates, Roxy (Sophie Cookson). Their tutor and the man who sets up the tasks is Merlin (Mark Strong), consistent and implacable.

Meantime the service is on a mission to stop the brilliant but psychotic billionaire Valentine (wittily played by Samuel L Jackson) from destroying the human race using his hi-tech skills and his money.

The action is fast, funny and startling, the gadgets are fantastical and crazy. There are many threads to the plot and lots of killing but it is never gory. The jokes are sharp and the whole film takes a dig at the spy genre while managing to be a terrific spy film itself using all the plots and all the gear. It is smart witty and very entertaining escapism.