Such a Pleasant Surprise

Rating: 8/10 (24 February 2015)

At first glance one would expect from viewing the trailer that this was the typical action undercover hero plot; filled with high tech gear, sick defense skills, some handsomely dapper suits and a mission to save the world. And without surprise, the film would consist of those elements in entirety. However, this hero spy movie actually has a stranger element that is rather a progressive and growing controversy surrounding the ever growing issue of global warming. This film I think tests the strange and rather immoral ideas of a human genocide to ultimately control global warming by decreasing the inhabitants of Earth dramatically. Viewed by most people, it is such a distant and abstract thought that I think reveals some truth to the reality of the situation we have on this planet, although it may not be the best solution to saving the planet for our society. The film's villain and mastermind, Valentine, is played by the comical Samuel L. Jackson. The oxymoron of Valentine begins just as Jackson says his first lines, expecting to have an intimidating factor, with a lisp. This small and seemingly insignificant detail just makes it a little hard to take his "scary" character so seriously. I think Jackson did pleasant job portraying his role with such intended sarcasm and humor. Beside the sci-fi half the film revolves around, the other follows the noble and strong heroes of the film, the 'Kingsmen'. The high speed action and intense side of the "life of a Kingsman" created the typical hero element with such a clever sense of humor that seemed to get better throughout the movie. Towards the last scenes of the film there was a whole lovely package of smart and witty humor that just kept getting better. Taron Egerton who played the role of Eggsy, the misfit protégé to the Kingsman fellowship was a fitting addition to the cast. I personally adored the character of Eggsy and was won over when he chose not to shoot his beloved pug at the end of his Kingsman training. He fit right along the dashing and classy Harry Hart played by the talented Colin Firth. The pair together was quite fitting as makeshift father and son. That made it just as heart wrenching when Harry passed right in front of the eyes of Eggsy, a definite shock. My favorite scene perhaps comes at the very end where Eggsy comes dressed in a suit and carrying an umbrella fit for a Kingsman to the bar he first met had exposure to Harry's role as a Kingsman. He comes to take his mother from his step-father only to end in the infamous scene shown an hour before in the movie originally performed by Firth as Harry Heart. It was a humorous tribute to the already clever scene. All in all this film was perhaps the greatest pleasant surprise I have had in awhile attending a show still in theaters. Not a waste of a ticket, but instead 130 minutes sarcastic and profanity stricken humor that in my opinion; the best kind.