Action movies will never die. They have been around since the beginning of the cinema with The Great Train Robbery. In that century of time, the stories revisit familiar plot points, but the difference is directors keep revamping the action to another level. That same principal applies to sequels as well (I’m looking at you Fast and Furious franchise). Kingsman: The Golden Circle, sequel to the surprise hit Kingsman: The Secret Service, is no different in the way it doubles down on the action from its predecessor. But, my lord, is that an understatement. If you ever thought for one second that action movies could die, Kingsman: The Golden Circle doesn’t even wait for you to finish that sentence. It backflips over you with a briefcase bazooka as it fends off robotic dogs and uses a lasso to slam your ass into next week, as vintage Elton John plays in the background.
Kingsman: The Golden Circle, never shies away from owning its outrageous concepts. And that made it an enjoyable and funny two-hour adventure. It wasn’t as good as the first, but it’s still a hell of a ride.
Taron Egerton returns as the title character Eggsy. After the Kingsman are attacked and left for dead, Eggsy and Kingsman tech expert Merlin discover an independent intelligence organization similar to themselves called the Statesman. The Statesman and Kingsman team up to take down The Golden Circle, a drug dealer/terrorist organization. Led by Poppy, played by Julianne Moore, the Golden Circle plans to control the drug trade of the world using threatening new side effects to all recreational drugs. While working with the Statesman, Eggsy discovers that Harry, played by Colin Firth, is somehow still alive.
The film sold its ridiculousness from the first trailer and poster when it was revealed that Colin Firth would be returning. The dude got shot point blank in the head in the first movie. And audiences were left enticed on how in the world he survived. In typical Kingsman fashion, the explanation for his survival is so absurd that all I did was shake my head and laugh. But again, that’s the trick with this movie. It knows it is so stupid, but it doesn’t care.
The best shining moments of the series’ signature craziness lie in the characters. Poppy is obsessed with the 1950’s culture so much that her secret base in the jungles of Cambodia resembles that of stereotypical 50’s main street. She plays a cheesy, mom-like character that doesn’t hesitate to shove people down meat grinders. Then there’s the Statesman, whose code names are all different types of alcohol. Channing Tatum plays Tequila, Jeff Bridges plays Champagne, and Pedro Pascal (where my Game of Thrones fans at? This is the same guy who played fan-favorite Oberyn Martell) plays Jack Daniels/Whiskey. And, oh yeah, they all carry lassos as their weapon of choice. And how could I forget Elton John. He plays himself, sings to a massive fight scene, and curses more than Christian Bale behind the scenes on Terminator: Salvation. It was so funny how overly cheesy and stupid each character was.
As over-the-top as the characters and story are, the film also delivers very subtle irony and real-world messages. The big one is that the crux of the plot plays on the real world’s use of recreational drugs. By the end the film, the story is revealed as an allegory for the war on drugs and how harsh the penalties can be for people who use it for stress, experiment, or just use them casually. Another use of film’s cleverness is how it portrays American stereotypes. The Statesman are named after alcohol, dress as cowboys, and are extremely cocky. Yes, this is funny, but it also represents America’s biggest shortcomings. Is that really what we want to be thought of to the rest of the world?
I also had two problems with the film. The first was that Channing Tatum was not nearly in the film as much as advertised. He had a cool fight scene at one point, but that’s about it. My other complaint involves the technique in which Eggsy had to apply a tracking device to a female suspect. The way he places the tracker follows that absurdity formula, but it felt like a bunch of male writers got together in the storyboard meeting and said, “Brooooo, this would be so funny.” Eggsy plays the considerate, conflicted hero in the situation, but I still found it a little distasteful.
However, that scene sticks to the film’s way-out-there game plan that also makes the rest of film so fun to watch. I didn’t like that one part of it, but the rest of Kingsman: The Golden Circle sold me on it’s insane action, ridiculous characters, and smart storytelling. If you liked the first one, chances are high you’ll like this one too.
Let me know your thoughts on Kingsman: The Golden Circle and any movies you would like Sarah and I to review in the future!
A COUPLE OF CRITICASTERS 