Unknown's Movie Review of Kingsman: The Secret Service

Brash and Ballsy 007 Love Letter!
Unknown - wrote on 02/16/15

'Kingsman' is a wild and crazy action/spy flick! The film takes clear homage from the more fantastical James Bond outings. Advanced gadgetry, over-the-top stunts, megalomaniac villains with lairs and lethal henchmen, suits, liquor, bedding beautiful women, and the suave Englishman hero. These tropes are simultaneously subverted with a wink, and lovingly embraced in the most brash manner. Our main hero rises through the ranks to become an ultimate badass gentleman spy. His training involves manners and self improvement in addition to the usual battle preparation. The cast is terrific! From newcomer Egerton exploding in his first big role, to Sam Jackson's funny villain, to Colin Firth's surprising fight skills, everyone nails it! The movie blazes through it's hefty plot with wit and adrenaline to spare. The action scenes are very impressive. The close quarters combat is shot and edited with much visual flair. New techniques are utilized to maximum potential. And, best of all, most of the stunts are performed by the actors. It's so fluid and engaging to watch them move. The brutal ultra-violence was unexpected, but it works in this ludicrous environment. Some killings achieve great comedic effect. Real-world connections blend well with the fantastical set-pieces. A bit of political/social commentary surfaces through this connection. Some might be put off by the darkness of these moments, particularly one harsh statement made during the film's most gruesome bloodbath that could be taken too seriously. I didn't mind as much. I saw it as a ballsy move done out of high spirits. The finale is a bit overlong. It's like three mini bombastic finale moments played in succession. Not a huge complaint, but it did make me begin to wonder if the film was about to end. 'Kingsman' offers an awesome amount of fun, while entertaining on multiple levels. It's a big meaty slice of James Bond nostalgia wrapped in a modern adult context. A slam-bang good time to be had!