Kingsman: The Secret Service
Kingsman: The Secret Service is not your average spy movie. Most spy films take themselves way too seriously and sometimes crank out the same stuff. Yes there are notable exceptions such as Skyfall and the Mission: Impossible series, but overall, the espionage genre is getting way too serious. But not Kingsman. Kingsman blends action, comedy, and drama even. Many movies that try to blend these genres fall flat on the floor. But in a weird way, this film really makes it work. The film stars Colin Firth (Love Actually), Samuel L. Jackson (The Avengers), Mark Strong (Zero Dark Thirty), and newcomer Taron Egeton (who will later costar with Tom Hardy in Legend). The Kingsmen are a spy organization that deals with tough and dangerous secret missions. After the death of a colleague, Harry Hart (Firth) has to train a candidate to take his spot. He finds Gary 'Eggsy' Unwin (Egerton), the son of another colleague who gave his life to save Hart. Eggsy lives with his mothe and abusive stepfather in a small London flat in the slums. Eggsy always has trouble with the police and gang members. Other Kingsman members also put forward a candidate and they all compete for the spot. They are put through brutal tests until only one remains. Meanwhile, a villain named Valentine (Jackson) is planning to eliminate all of humankind by emiting a signal from their cell phones and making them kill each other. Valentine however gets sponsors and shelters them all from the deadly signals. The Kingsmen must all come together to save the world from Valentine's evil plan. Kingsman is a smart movie that is very aware of itself. It includes countless references to other spy films but still stands on its own.
It is a surprise sleeper hit and definitely one of the best of the year. Egerton is great as a troubled delinquent and Firth is surprisingly remarkable as a character one would not be used to seeing him as. If you want to see a funny and action-packed film and don't mind a lot of bloody violence and carnage, you will love this movie.
