According to Wikipedia, Kingsman is only loosely based on Mark Millar's comic (titled simply "The Secret Service) but his sensibility is all over it. Just like the last time Matthew Vaughn adapted a Millar story (2010's Kick-Ass) this movie would offend those with stomachs as weak as Sam Jackson's character, Richmond Valentine. There's a scene in a church that was especially hard to watch, even though the victims could be said to deserve it. Violence aside, the suggestion of kidnapped world leaders eventually agreeing with the motivation behind the villain's plan might be a shocking concept. It's even implied that our current president is involved, though we only see the back of his big-eared head. Apparently the original comic centered around the actual MI-6 agency, while the Kingsman service in the movie is funded independently from the government. This change might have been made to avoid litigation from Eon Productions, those behind the James Bond series. But they sure didn't have a problem pointing out within the script how similar all this is to that franchise.
This movie takes a lot of the familiarity of Bond movies and cranks up the edginess to the level of a well-deserved R-rating. While Bond's gunshots and fisticuffs are mostly bloodless, in Kingsman the violence is gory and in-your-face with its slick, stylish stuntwork. Where Bond would order his famous "vodka martini, shaken not stirred" the one martini order we hear from our protagonist is specified as "gin, not vodka, stirred for 10 seconds" and these gentleman spies largely prefer whiskey. And as for the point when Bond would intimately get to know one of his leading ladies after saving the world, let's just say Kingsman's leading man goes where no MI-6 agent has gone before. There are even moments when the hero and villain state what we think would usually happen in the given situation, but then remind us bluntly "This isn't that kind of movie." Well, it really isn't.
Kingsman borrows from movies other than the spy genre as well, but puts an original spin on the ideas. For instance, when the new recruits were being trained and whittled down, it kind of reminded me of Agent Jay's training in Men in Black, crossed with the culling of children in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. The tasks that Eggsy barely passes demonstrate that he's just the right misfit for the job. Though certain twists at the end of that sequence again subvert expectations.
I was impressed to learn Firth did 80% of his own stunts. He has stated that he was chosen for the role of Harry Hart mainly because of how unlikely he seemed for that type. Newcomer Taron Egerton (now that I think about his last name I wonder if it's the reason his character is nicknamed Eggsy) was perfect for the role of the trainee and I can see this being his breakout into a lot of work in the future. Caine, Strong, and Jackson were all excellent as always, and as I said they play parts we haven't seen them do before. And I can't forget to mention Mark Hamill's fun cameo, which I'm sure was created because Hamill himself is a character in the comic book, though in the movie he's a professor of a different name.
Kingsman: The Secret Service is a well-directed, original action flick that might occasionally make you cringe but will definitely keep you guessing. If you always wished James Bond didn't have to be so "PG-13" all the time, this might be the movie you've been wanting.
Check out the official site for more information and an interactive game, or Fandango for tickets.
"Let's just say Kingsman's leading man goes where no MI-6 agent has gone before" makes me wish I had gone to see it with you!
ReplyDeleteThis is a very helpful review. It was fun to read and makes me want to see the movie.
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