‘Kingsman’
B-
There are three things in this world that I absolutely and endlessly love: puppies, profanity and watching Colin Firth kick ass while wearing a well-fitted suit and adorable grandpa glasses.
So “Kingsman: The Secret Service” was basically made for me because it had all three.
Based on the 2012 comic book series “The Secret Service,” “Kingsman” takes the classic spy thriller and grooms and refines it into a compelling tale of adventure and overcoming social stigma.
Taron Egerton plays Eggsy Unwin, a clever street kid who lands in hot water after stealing a car. He is arrested and decides to call in a favor to get out.
Enter the dashing Colin Firth as Harry Hart, a member of the Kingsman.
The Kingsman is an elite spy organization made up of uppity white British men with posh accents who use code names based off of the Knights of the Round Table because they’re just cool ?like that.
Oh, and Eggsy’s father used to be a Kingsman. He dies to save Harry’s life, which feeds the guilt Harry is still carrying some years later when he bails Eggsy out ?of jail.
Then, in a stroke of genius, Harry decides maybe the best way to repay Eggsy for the death of his father is to recruit Eggsy to become a Kingsman himself.
Seeing no flaws in this logic and having nothing to lose, Eggsy agrees and soon finds himself competing with a group of upper class snobs for the coveted spot as a Kingsman.
Meanwhile, Harry begins to investigate the disappearances of several celebrities and diplomats from around the world. It leads him to Richmond Valentine, a billionaire business mogul who has decided it is his duty to save the world from itself.
Unfortunately, Valentine’s solution to save the world is to take out a large chunk of the population by turning people into murderous psychopaths.
The fate of the world inevitably lands on Eggsy’s shoulders. There are some explosions, lots of gun fire, a moment of “Oh no, will he make it on time?” and a clever one-liner to tie it all together.
“Kingsman” offers a smart twist on common spy films. It’s not just that Eggsy isn’t your typical spy type. He has an impressive background in gymnastics from when he was a child. He was good in school and was in the marines for a time, which makes his success during Kingsman training understandable.
Don’t be alarmed by the film’s R rating. It’s mostly due to language because “Kingsman” did not hold back on the cussing. Quite a few choice words were delivered by Firth, who somehow manages to make the most vulgar terms sound poetic and polite.
“Kingsman” shines a different light on spy thrillers. It’s gritty and will likely be more effective in pulling the younger generation into the genre through its crude humor and flawed characters.
Don’t go in expecting the kind of cat-and-mouse power dynamic we’ve become accustomed to through Bond films, because it just ain’t that kind of movie.
