After a thrilling experience of watching the first film in the Kingsman franchise, I wasted no time diving into the sequel. And just like the first film, this sequel follows the “save the world” model becoming louder, bloodier and funny. Also, the filmmakers added a stellar new cast to the previous lineup, making this movie more entertaining.
Written by Jane Goldman and Vaughn, and directed by Matthew Vaughn, Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017) is a spy action comedy, the second installment in the franchise, starring Taron Egerton, Colin Firth, Mark Strong, Julianne Moore, Channing Tatum, Halle Berry, Jeff Bridges and other supporting actors.
This movie brings back Eggsy (Taron Egerton) who has settled into his role as a Kingsman agent. He's more confident and skilled but his life changes when he encounters a former Kingsman's trainee, Charlie, who didn't make the selection. After a car chase, Charlie somehow hacks into Eggsy's car and gets the location of the Kingsman's headquarters. This leads to a devastating attack but Eggsy and Merlin (Mark Strong) survive it.
Eggsy and Merlin travel to the US to meet Statesman, an American spy organisation with its own style, traditions and gadgets. The Kingsmen have their polished suits and umbrellas while the Statesmen prefer cowboy hats, whiskey and a more rugged approach to espionage. Their joint investigation leads them to Poppy Adams (Julianne Moore), the leader of the world's largest drug cartel known as the Golden Circle.
Once Eggsy discovers that Harry (Colin Firth) survived the attack but had amnesia, he works on curing him. The stakes become higher when Poppy threatens to wipe out the world with a toxin that causes paralysis in exchange for legal immunity for her organisation. The Kingsmen and Statesmen must work together to contain this threat. Can they do so within the time frame and save the world?
My Review And Rating
In this entertaining sequel, the plot follows the first film in making the stakes about saving the world, reminding me of the James Bond franchise and the Mission Impossible franchise. But the strong script and casting makes this movie goofy and the watching experience unique.
In Kingsman: The Secret Service, the action scenes are ridiculous sometimes and their gadgets absurd. That is the world of the Kingsmen and they do not apologise for it. In this sequel, the actions are more absurd and move with the energy of a comic book. I know it's all CGI but it's stylish, fast and often unpredictable and that's what makes it fun. Though some critics disagreed with this and wrote negative reviews. Still, there is no denying that Director Matthew Vaughn has a talent for turning violence into spectacle and several fight scenes have the same energetic camera work that made the first movie memorable.
I like that this movie makes its action scenes distinct by moving across different locations and each of them carry a different vibe. Also, the movie makes a clear distinction between the Statesmen’s weapons and the Kingsmen. For example, in an action scene, the camera angles focus on a modified shotgun while also showing deadly lassos and chewing gums as effective weapons!
It was great to see the lead actors from the first film return for the sequel and even better, seeing the addition of a stellar cast including Halle Berry, Channing Tatum, Jeff Bridges and others. The lead actors held their own as always, especially Taron Edgerton and Mark Strong. Eggsy remains the emotional centre of the story. Taron Egerton carries the role with more confidence in this sequel. His character has his rough edges but he becomes a proper Kingsman without losing the personality that made him interesting. I loved his relationship with Princess Tilde (Hanna Alström).
I like that the movie brings back Colin Firth as Harry Hart. He returns with some of the charm and seriousness that made the first film work. Julianne Moore as Poppy is one of the movie's stronger additions. She is not a terrifying villain as viewers would expect. Her cheerful personality clashes with the cruelty of her action, creating an uncomfortable contrast. I enjoyed her performance.
However, some of the characters feel underused in my opinion, especially considering the actors playing them. Channing Tatum (Tequila) is introduced with plenty of energy yet the film does not do enough with him afterwards. Halle Berry (Ginger Ale) is likeable and intelligent but I wanted to see more of her as well.
The Statesman organisation is an interesting addition to the story but I feel the filmmakers should have explored it more. Another flaw is that I feel this movie is unnecessarily long. Some jokes go on so long and some action sequences are so exaggerated they lose their impact.
Comparing the two movies in the Kingsman franchise, I prefer the first. This sequel lacks some of the freshness and focus that made Kingsman: The Secret Service such an enjoyable surprise. This sequel feels more aware of its own popularity and doubled up on the gadgets, the bloody action, the sharp suits and the strange humour. It's like adding too much sweetener into a cup of tea.
Rating this movie, I'd give it 7.5 out of 10 stars. Despite its flaws, Kingsman: The Golden Circle is not boring but colourful, energetic, action-packed and thrilling to watch.
All images above are screenshots from the movie
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Rating: 75/100
