Spy movies are forever linked (fairly or not) to the number 007,and a highly stylized montage of chic girls dancing to the theme song while the opening credits unfurl. A sophisticated gentleman who speaks with a British accent and is equally adept at tying a Windsor knot and saving the world from evil power-hungry megalomaniacs… has been the familiar formula for decades with different actors interpreting the title role. This standard shaken not stirred recipe has inspired both imitators and innovators alike from “Austin Powers” to “The Bourne Identity”. “Kingsman: The Golden Circle” tips its creative hat to Bond, but makes no apologies about its deliberate attempt to inject new life into the spy flick; bringing the genre to a new generation of fans. The secret agents in this movie may have their roots in Ian Fleming’s creation, but they choose to revel in their own personas, and along the way they put their own indelible stamp on a new kind of spy franchise.
A follow-up to “The Kingsman” (2014), an elite spy organization based in London, (in case you haven’t seen the first installment) face an almost insurmountable challenge this time around. When their headquarters are obliterated and their colleagues are killed; the only two surviving members “Eggsy” (Taron Egerton) and “Merlin” (Mark Strong) team up to try to find a way to keep the spy organization alive.
What do the last two Kingsmen who are armed with only the finest clothes that London’s Savile Row has to offer do? They follow their training of course, and execute upon the ultimate contingency plan that requires them to travel to “The Statesman” bourbon distillery in Kentucky, which secretly doubles as an American spy counterpart to the Kingsman organization across the pond. Eggsy and Merlin partner up with their Statesman cohorts (Jeff Bridges, Channing Tatum, and Halle Berry) to foil a plot by Poppy (Julianne Moore) the world’s biggest supplier of illegal drugs. Poppy has poisoned her supply and yes you guessed it… only she has the antidote. It’s up to Eggsy, Merlin, and “Harry” (Colin Firth) to save the world. Harry died at the end of the first film, but he has been resurrected through the power of movie magic and skillful screenwriting, to join the almost impossible mission of travelling to Poppy’s remote South Central American jungle hideout in search of the antidote. To further complicate matters Poppy has managed to kidnap Sir Elton John and is holding him hostage.
Robotic dogs, a karate kicking platform boots wearing Sir Elton John in a campy cameo, not so subtle social commentary on the current political climate, and the war on drugs with a soundtrack that features the soul soothing music of John Denver are blended together effortlessly with glorious results. For those who are devotees of the classic spy genre, there is the obligatory sense of humor that punctuates every action scene,a chase sequence featuring a runaway gondola lift, exploding bottles of aftershave, and technological gadget wonders that can save anyone being pursued by the minions of blood-thirsty revenge motivated villains, who are obsessed with taking over the world.
Worth the cost of the babysitter A+
“Kingsman: The Golden Circle” 20th Century Fox (2017) is rated R and runs 2 hours and 21 minutes.
Interested in this movie and where and when you can see it ?
Go to: www.amctheatres.com, www.atomtickets.com,www.fandango.com, and/or www.movietickets.com.
Worth the cost of the babysitter! (A+)
Great way to break the ice with your date. (B)
Wait until it comes to t.v. (C)
Wake me when it’s over. (D)
