Despite it being a '60's style 'gentleman' spy-caper filtered through the amped-up adrenaline junkie aspect of a modern
action-blockbuster, 'Kingsman The Secret Service' has actually got something
serious on its mind. A central driving
idea is that people from poorer backgrounds don't get the chance to prove themselves
and achieve their potential, unlike someone from a privileged one. But despite that, the most serious question I
came away from this film thinking was, "why the hell has no one put Colin Firth in an action movie before?!?!?!"
You see, playing one of the agents from the titular Spy Agency, Firth's
softly-spoken, perfectly enunciated, gentlemanly manner makes him the absolute
spot-on choice for the role. But that's
not the real surprise - it's how comfortably he slots in to the sort of action
scenes that are the bread and butter of any action thriller, post Bourne and
Taken. Watching him kicking and punching
his way through villains - with no small amount of gentlemanly finesse and
grace - is one of those moments where you just think "why has NO ONE ever
thought of this casting before?!?" And
Firth's Agent Harry Hart, codenamed Galahad, isn't even the central character
- but such is his presence it feels like the film really belongs to him.
The plot is a tongue-in-cheek yet affectionate tribute to
the spy movies of the 1960's, especially Connery's Bonds. There's a typically nefarious scheme from Billionaire
Villain Valentine - Samuel L Jackson, brilliantly sending up his typical action
movie persona as a lisping technology mogul who hates the sight of blood. When a Kingsman Agent is killed investigating
a kidnapping Valentine was behind, Harry Hart takes on the case - while at the
same time looking out for a potential new recruit to fill join the agency. He chooses Eggsy (Taron Egerton), a
working-class lad from the East End of London who, bereft of other
opportunities, has slid in to joy-riding and trying to keep out of getting his
head kicked in by the thugs working for the local gangster who has taken up
with his mother. But Hart sees the
potential of someone who is loyal, could have achieved more at school, or at
gymnastics, or in the Marines if he'd have had the encouragement to stick at
them. He selects him to undergo the
tests that could see him become the new Kingsman Agent. Doing this, Hart carries on his
investigations, and uncovers Valentine's plan to off-set climate change by, er,
wiping out most of the Earth's population.
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| "Manners maketh man." Getting in to a fight with Agent Harry Hart is NOT the brightest idea... |
At this point, after Firth has made such a strong
impression as Hart, the film becomes dangerously close to derailing itself
after only a third of the way through, when Hart is effectively put in to a
coma for a time. Thankfully, Eggsy and
fellow trainee Roxy (Sophie Cookson) prove to be engaging characters, and watching Jackson's
Valentine attempting to charm various world leaders in to joining his scheme is
quite fun; especially his henchwoman Gazelle (Sofia Boutella), who proves to be, quite literally, a 'disarming' companion with her sword-edged blade legs.
The whole thing is underscored by a pretty black sense of
humour, and no small amount of irreverence - if you're a Daily Mail reader, you
may find your hackles rising at some of the film's content. I must admit there was one scene I wasn't
totally comfortable with - a massacre in a Westboro-styled 'hate preacher'
church; whilst it is filmed in the fashion of an exhilarating and superbly
choreographed action sequence (again, Firth proves astoundingly capable at
this), the fact this is a massacre of civilians in a place of worship was
almost a distraction from what was no doubt a satirical poke at the likes of
Jim Phelps and the Westboro congregation.
Yes, they are fair game to satirise and poke fun at, but suggesting they
should be massacred? In this instance
it's hard to see how anyone could have moral high-ground when suggesting such a
thing, even as a joke.
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| "Oxfords, not Brogues." Hart (Firth) mentors directionless working-class lad Eggsy (Egerton) in to Kingsman material. |
This aside, The film pulls off its blend of
action and humour just right - the ending sequence is suitably gripping and
exciting. Occasionally, some dodgy green
screen work spoils one or two special effects, but the film's best special
effect is Firth himself - seriously, I cannot get over how GREAT Mr Darcy, King
George VI himself, takes to tautly choreographed action scenes. There are also fun cameos from Mark Hamill
and Michael Caine that add to the overall enjoyment. 'Kingsman' sets the bar
high for this year's action blockbusters, and has launched the most unlikely
new Action Movie star to come out of Great Britain. Seriously, someone absolutely must give Colin
Firth his own Taken-style franchise; the US has Jason Bourne, Jack Bauer and
Bryan Mills - I'd say there's room for another ass-kicking British Agent
gentleman, besides a certain James Bond, and Colin Firth must play him!
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