Does To James Bond What Kickass Did To Superheroes!

Rating: Null/10 (29 May 2015)

From the director of Kickass & X-Men: First Class comes a new comic book adaptation that effortlessly blends the over-the-top action of the former with the secret world of the latter, which is then smoothly intermixed with elements of spy-thrillers & is ultimately raised to a high level of bizarro. And the result is an incredibly stylish, downright hilarious & endlessly fun cinema called Kingsman: The Secret Service.
Based on the acclaimed comic book, Kingsman: The Secret Service refers to a secret spy organisation that's looking to recruit a potential agent as a replacement for the position left vacated by a former Kingsman who dies during one of their operations. The story follows a veteran Kingsman agent who takes an aimless young adult under his wing & grooms him for the job while a twisted billionaire unleashes a global threat.
Co-written, co-produced & directed by Matthew Vaughn, whose kinetic direction here brims with creative energy as his latest is his love letter to earlier James Bond classics. However, it also toys with the conventions of its genre & makes fun of the same simultaneously, and with its clever use of violence, outlandish humour & a few cartoonish renderings, makes this film a roller-coaster ride of emotions.
Coming to the technical aspects, Production Design team does an excellent job as all the set pieces are meticulously refined. Cinematography makes excellent use of camera that seamlessly switches from a firmly controlled sequence to an out-of-control carnage without ever losing focus. Editing briskly paces the whole narrative. Plus, the energetic soundtrack by Henry Jackman & Matthew Margeson works in the film's favour.
As far as performances go, Kingsman: The Secret Service features a well-rounded cast in Colin Firth, Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Strong, Taron Egerton & others. Now Firth may not be anyone's first choice for an action role yet it's the exact reason why his character works so well. Jackson is funny & freaky at the same time. Strong is reliable as always. Egerton is the newcomer here who exhibits great potential & his master-disciple relationship with Firth is a highlight of this feature.
On an overall scale, Kingsman: The Secret Service is an early oddball of the year that does to James Bond what Kickass did to superheroes. Its unexpected shift in tones, crazy action sequences & eccentric use of humour may not go well with everyone but even its detractors can't deny the awesomeness of the church scene. While certainly a no match to Vaughn's previous effort, this British spy action comedy is nevertheless an enjoyable, entertaining & amusing ride that comes gleefully recommended.