Serviceable

Rating: 6/10 (11 July 2015)

(Rating: ☆☆ ½ out of 4) This film is mildly recommended. In brief: A spy film that is shaky, not stirring. GRADE: B- Kingsman: The Secret Service is an homage to the British spy film genre with its sophisticated agents, wry humor, and gadgetry. It sends up the Ian Fleming spy films but with a harsher edginess and tons of violence. Matthew Vaughn directs the film with ample flair and style, but his screenplay (co-written by Jane Goldman) lacks the right degree of mindless fun and wit. The plot follows the formula of a megalomaniac wanting to control the world and a secret agency that is hellbent on stopping him. The film is very well cast, with the exception of its villain, who acts more buffoonish than menacing. Samuel L. Jackson plays him, but the actor never conveys the wickedness very convincingly. Fortunately, the other actors contribute greatly to the film's enjoyment. Foremost are its two leads, Colin Firth who handles the action hero bravado very well and newcomer Taron Egerton as his willing protégé. Mark Strong, Michael Caine, and Sofia Boutella as the female Oddjob round out the ensemble. Kingsman: The Secret Service entertains, but its high level of non-stop violence is disturbing, especially in a church scene where the body count reaches absurd heights and skews the film's lighter tone which effectively is found in films of this genre. Also, the CGI is amateurish and cheap looking. Kingsman: The Secret Service is based on a comic book, but comic is not the correct term in describing this movie. Serviceable is.