I shouldn't be at all surprised if I were to be told that he's appeared in more films than I've had nocturnal emissions - the releases always coming with a big splash, lacking only a fanfare of silver trumpets. (His films, I mean!).
Truth to tell, I quite enjoyed this. Took me quite a while to tune in to the necessary wavelength, but once I'd homed in it carried me along rather nicely.
Based on a comic book of the same title (unknown to me) it concerns Firth as a British secret agent, all of whom are known as 'Kingsmen', recruiting an unlikely, anonymous, young protege to train as and replace an agent who's recently met his end. The secret agents' look and manner is a dapper one - superficially a gentlemen in etiquette and dress, but covering a lethal underside when provoked or on a mission. It reminded me a lot of the John Steed character in the 1960s TV series, 'The Avengers'; debonair, bowler-hatted, brolly-carrying.
There is a dastardly, maniacal villain played by Samuel L. Jackson, bent on 007 nemesis-style world domination (through widespread implants in the head to control behaviour), while Firth's boss at the head of the Secret Service is Michael Caine. Most of the screen time focuses on the young pupil, acted by one Taron Egerton (no significant feature film on his C.V. until this production) - as well as on Mark Strong, on the side of the 'goodies'. Two young females also feature, both unknown names to me - one, another young trainee alongside Egerton, aspiring to replace the lost agent - and the other, a blade-walking sidekick to Jackson's 'Dr Evil', whose blades are rather more versatile than for merely walking on.
There's loads of comic-style violence, very vicious (nothing unduly dwelt on), very stylised and utterly impossible - often with a single character against an entire group rather than one-to-one combat, sometimes on a spectacular scale. It's all delivered with a significant measure of boys-own-comic-book humour, quite effective for the most part. No shock to learn that director Matthew Vaughn has directed a number of films in this genre, some of which contain extreme violence. ('Lock Stock....','Snatch', 'Layer Cake', 'Kick-Ass', 'X-men: First Class' plus 'Stardust'. Quite a list!)
The fantastic story wrong-footed me a few times, though at the start I wasn't at all sure how one was supposed to take the turns in plot. It's really another of those films where it's best not to ask too many questions, but just to allow it to get on.
Good fun, then. It ought to please those who are looking for undemanding entertainment - and we are all, at least sometimes, in the mood for that........................7.
It looks a little cheesy to me, and that's not really a bad thing, but you make it sound like a fun way to spend an afternoon. I may have to see this one.
ReplyDeleteIt's attractively empty stuff, Bob, If you're a popcorn consumer (which I am not), then that snack would go perfectly with the mood of this.
DeleteI'm seen the trailer for this twice and admit I want to see it. The Avengers reference if a good one. From the trailer it seemed reminiscent of the early Bond films when I was a kid and all of the gadgets were exciting. I did not know it was based on a graphic novel
ReplyDeleteIt's a diverting piece of nonsense, H.K., which ought to satisfy those looking for a 'fun' couple of hours.
DeleteI was also wondering if Sassybear's encyclopedic knowledge on matters comic meant that he was familiar with the paper original. Maybe it's better known outside these shores, but if you also weren't aware of it, then who knows?
I have yet to have ever experienced a nocturnal emission. I a bit jealous of you for that because if I haven't yet at my age I'm guessing I will not experience that part of the human experience.
ReplyDeleteI assumed ALL men experienced them, F.B. - at least all but a tiny minority, of which you may or may not be a part. But they are very infrequent for me now whereas at one time they were quite regular. Without wishing to get too graphic, they are very nice indeed when happening but once over it's an awful nuisance to clean up in the night hours when you just want to return to sleep, it having been so rudely interrupted. Close of subject!
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