Movie Review: Kingsman: The Secret Service

Director: Matthew Vaughn
Cast: Taron Egerton, Colin Firth, Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Hamill
Genre: Action/Thriller
Duration: 129 minutes
Rating: 8/10

Gary "Eggsy" Unwin, whose late father secretly worked for a spy organisation, lives in a South London housing estate and seems headed for a life behind bars. However, dapper agent Harry Hart recognises potential in an unrefined, but promising street kid and recruits him to be a trainee in the secret spy organisation.

Meanwhile, villainous tech genius and eco-terrorist billionaire, Richmond Valentine launches a diabolical plan to solve the problem of climate change via a worldwide killing spree. It is up to Harry and this new kid to save the world.

Thumbs up
The movie does live up to its promise of being more badass than Bond especially in the execution of a dapper gentleman, in this case Harry Hart, being involved in international intrigue. And the supercool spy guys - and girls - whose stunts are more than impressive.

And who ever thought that a house of worship would be cleaned out by a man armed only with a bulletproof umbrella, if they exist to begin with? It scores full points on the imaginative front.

Given that the movie is based on the comic book, 'The Secret Service', by Dave Gibbons and Mark Millar, the director does an excellent job in finding the balance between cartoonish action and character-driven drama.

Thumbs Down
While the fight sequences are well choreographed, intense, full of energy and style, the rest of the film is not. I have no idea why they advertised it as having the same directors as X-men. It was nothing like an X-men movie. The trailer is also very misleading; it undersells the movie.

Verdict
With a charming and entertaining cast and a good script, this adrenaline packed movie is one you do not want to miss.