The Kingsman are back and better than ever

In 2014, a new spy franchise entered the movie world in hope of finding an audience. What did it have that was different? For starters, it was fun, and secondly it changed up the way people viewed its stars. Colin Firth lost the romantic/period piece stigma attached to him and became a cool ass spy. Samuel L. Jackson showed us that he can still appeal on-screen as a baddie and a new star was found in Taron Egerton. The movie was Kingsman: The Secret Service and it was an awesome film full of fun, excitement, black comedy and changed the spy genre away from the more serious Bourne and Bond film franchises. It’s now 2017, and the gang are back to give us Kingsman: The Golden Circle.

So how do you top a movie, (that was a personal favourite of this reviewer) with a sequel. Well if the old rule of thumb goes, you go bigger. And boy did they for this movie. An even bigger cast, bigger action scenes and more excitement. But before I get ahead of myself let me give you a run down.

Eggsy (Taron Egerton) is back where we left him. As a member of the Kingsman he is joined by his old mate Merlin (Mark Strong) and Lancelot (Sophie Cookson) but no Harry (or is he back?) to fight the crime that threaten the world. After an adrenaline first action scene (seriously it goes right into it, so hold on) we learn that there is a new threat to the Kingsman and the world in the form of drug trafficker Poppy (Julianne Moore). Let’s just say to up Samuel L. Jackson’s character in the first one they have gone all out making Poppy a 50’s housewife with psychotic tendencies. Poppy sets her sights on making drugs legal so that she can leave her remote village in the middle of the jungle and show how powerful she really can be. After the Kingsman relocate to America we are introduced to the Statesman the American version of Kingsman. Headed by Champ (Jeff Bridges) Ginger (Halle Berry) Tequila (Channing Tatum) Whiskey (Pedro Pascal) and maybe even an old friend (seriously I am not going to say it, but his face is on all the posters and even in the trailer and rhymes with Barry) they join forces to take down Poppy and save the world once again.

If you had of not already guessed, I loved this movie. From the awesome action pieces, to the two cultures of America and Britain being together it all worked for this reviewer. Matthew Vaughn is one talented director and writer. From his re-inventing the X-Men Franchise, to creating his own super hero’s without powers in Kick-Ass, to giving us a new fairytale in Stardust the guy is one of my favs. Him and his writing partner Jane Goldman have taken the franchise and moved it along nicely. Even though it does follow the same pattern and structure of the first one, I didn’t care. It got me hooked right where the last one left off.  The action pieces are so intense that I felt I took an adrenaline shot every time they started and felt I needed a lie down when they stopped (oh I do enjoy a good nap).

But I am not going to say that it was just the action, I give a big round of applause to the acting. Why these films work is because they are FUN. Fun people. What movies are meant to be about. Enjoy them. You don’t need to feel like you are changing the world with every piece of film coming out. And it shows with all the actors eating it up. I mean you have four Oscar winners here people. The franchise appeals. That’s all I’m saying. Julianne Moore was so over the top with her sweetness and bad jokes that she was perfect as Poppy. The movie keeps on surprising even throwing in one of the biggest musicians in the world who has some of the best scenes of the movies. I’m not saying who, but Poppy does have robot dogs called Bennie and Jett.  You can work it out from that. All the American gang look like they are having a blast. But I must admit one of them stole the show. Pedro Pascal (Whiskey) is the breakout star here. Dude was awesome with his over the top cowboy act and his lasso that can split a man in half (you will see). I mean where else can you do that but this franchise.

Now the big question is, as the debate will happen like it did for Terminator and Terminator 2, Alien and Aliens, Godfather and Godfather 2 and  even Grease and Grease 2, which one was better. Sorry to disappoint folks but I can’t answer that yet. I love the first one, but have had multiple viewings. So I can’t decide till I see it a few more times (and I definitely will). All I can say is the franchise is in good hands so sit back and enjoy this film for the fun that it is. Let’s just hope number 3 happens soon because these Kingsman (and maybe the Statesman) need to come back and claim their rightful place as the head of the spy table.