Kingsman: The Secret Service (Review) - James Bond With An ASBO

Well that was certainly a nice surprise, wasn't it? It's very rare that you'd go into a film expecting a 5, and come out with a solid 10. Quite unexpectedly, Kingsman: The Secret Service manages to accomplish just that. 

Harry Hart / Gallahad (Colin Firth)

The film begins by introducing us to your typical, chavvy adolescent. Gary 'Eggsy' Unwin (Taron Egerton) had so much potential growing up, only to be squandered by a life of substance abuse and crime. After the death of his father however, Eggsy is introduced to the enigmatic Harry Hart - a mysterious figure operating under the alias 'Galahad' (Colin Firth). Harry's a member of the elite, eponymous spy group The Kingsman, and soon begins training Eggsy up in order to welcome him into their prestigious team. 

Gary 'Eggsy' Unvin (Taron Egerton)

Predictable? Kingsman wrote the book. But the film wholly embraces this, and is one of the most fun, self-aware movies I have seen in years. If you cross Kick-Ass with James Bond and crank up the swearing and violence, you're halfway there. At no point, however, does this become even remotely close to a problem; not even when the characters openly discuss the preposterous nature of the movie before your very eyes. In an interaction between Galahad and the villainous Valentine (played spectacularly by Samuel L. Jackson), the two characters reminisce over the classic spy movies of their golden age, and how they're "too serious for my liking". This should give you a pretty good idea as to what you're in for: a blisteringly-fast action film with comedy to rival even the funniest of movies. 

And talking of action: Kingsman: The Secret Service has it in spades. A particular stand-out segment takes place in a church which erupts into one of the best action-scenes I've ever seen in a film - all accompanied by the pacey song 'Free Bird'. It's utterly ridiculous and if you stop to think about it - which you won't - it may even seem a little too absurd, but the film flies along at such speed that you just enjoy it for what it is and forget about silly little things like realism. 

Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson)

As far as faults are concerned, Kingsman's are few and far between. Eggsy's potential love-interest Roxy (Sophie Cookson) seems to exist only to amp up the tension for certain parts of the movie, and Samuel L. Jackon's lisp is occasionally a little unbelievable, but the minuscule size of these criticisms should tell you all you need to know: this is a seriously good movie. 

Verdict
I sincerely wish that all future films that I go and see with so-so expectations end up being half as good as Kingsman: The Secret Service. The 15 certificate allows for some fairly brutal violence and frequent swearing, which only adds to the brilliantly juvenile tone the film tries to - and most certainly does - achieve. If you were on the fence about seeing this due to the trailers not seeming quite that good, I urge you to reconsider. If you're desperate for a fun time in the cinema, this movie most certainly has you covered. 

"If you're prepared to adapt, you can transform"