[dropcap]W[/dropcap]hen a comrade is killed on a mission, a super spy (Colin Firth) for a secret British organization, the Kingsmen, pays a debt to his fallen friend by taking the chap’s hothead son (Taron Egerton) under his wing in the spy game. Just in time too, because nerdy and megalomaniacal – but weak in the stomach when it comes to violence – tech giant Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson) plans to cause all kinds of bloodsoaked chaos with his new app.
Kingsman is co-written and directed by Matthew Vaughn, director of X Men: First Class and Kick Ass, from a graphic novel by Mark Millar (also creator of Kick Ass) and Dave Gibbons. Gibbons is a frequent collaborator of Alan Moore, and been pretty lucky as far as adaptations of his work. Hits like Watchmen, among other properties he worked on (from Captain America to Green Lantern), have been turned into big-budget motion pictures.
Some of those are hit or miss, but Vaughn’s eye for off the wall action blends well here with solid performances from Oscar-caliber actors and interesting characters.
You might think by now Kingsman tries to be dead serious at heart (the trailer could surely give you that idea), but it is assuredly more of a self-aware romp. Little doubt is left we are dealing with an irreverent send-up of the espionage subgenre (Jackson and Egerton say as much), and no complaints here.
Between its gags and compositions, the film might evoke comparisons to Austin Powers or the recently released Mortdecai, as much as Kick Ass, but is smarter than either of those (particularly the disappointing Mortdecai and Goldmember). It has plenty to say about aspects of modern culture – like our over-reliance on technology, the dangers of overpopulation and mass depopulation, and how much has changed since the good old days of early Bond films.
The Kingsman does his (and her) duty to Her Majesty with aplomb, and will for audiences too. It should be a real treat for comic readers (especially, due to cameos by Mark Hamill, Mark Strong, Michael Caine and other superhero stalwarts) and fans of intrigue, crass humor, and action alike – complemented by moments of Point-Break-style adrenaline rushes, and the sort of postmodern kick-cum-carnage we love from Tarantino.
Just remember, “Manners maketh man,” but at the same time, “This ain’t that kinda movie!”
