Review: Kingsman: The Golden Circle Is The Best Sequel You Never Expected
- Sep 23, 2017
- 2 min read
I grew up loving the wacky, CGI-obsessed Spy Kids franchise. For the unfamiliar, the identifying features of these movies include terrible CGI, wonderful and dumb gadgets, really weird plotlines, and an incredible cast. As Kingsman: The Golden Circle ramps up these elements which were already semi-present in The Secret Service, it becomes apparent that Kingsman: The Golden Circle is Spy Kids for adults - in a good way!
One year after becoming the Kingsman's new Galahad, Eggsy (Taron Egerton) is attacked by former Kingsman trainee Charlie (Edward Holcroft) who survived the exploding microchip from the last movie thanks to an electric jolt from Eggsy. After obtaining location data for his new employer, Poppy Adams (Julianne Moore), she blows up all known Kingsman headquarters. Eggsy and Merlin (Mark Strong) must journey to Kentucky and team up with Statesman, the American cousin of Kingsman.
They say everything's bigger in Texas, but the same can be said for Kentucky, as Kingsman: The Golden Circle kicks everything up to 11. There seem to be fewer action scenes in this movie, but the choreography and camerawork in these scenes make it all worthwhile. There's nothing in there quite like the church scene from the first film, but there's a couple of very memorable one-take action scenes. Throw in an electric lasoo, a cologne grenade, a chain fist, robot dogs with Elton references for names, and Elton John himself and you have an over-the-top spy movie more reminiscent of Spy Kids or Austin Powers than the James Bond films that Kingsman likes to mock. But it's wonderful, and readily mocks its own trends just as readily as it mocks those of other spy films.
The movie's main plot is a pretty cliche one, with a major percentage of the world's population under the influence of a paralysing force. I won't go into too much detail, but I never felt like I was watching a movie that was trying to be a different movie. It felt like the concept was approached in a new way, and it was genuinely creepy at some points. Julianne Moore is especially good as Poppy, who is clearly somewhat inspired by the internet icon of the same name. (If you don't believe me, wait until the video she sends to the president.)
Taron Egerton and Mark Strong are clearly comfortable in their roles now, and did extremely well as the driving force behind the movie. Their emotional moments (especially before Colin Firth's Harry returns) almost had me in tears.
The movie isn't perfect, but it offers some of the best action, biggest laughs, and coolest gadgets in spy films. This may just be one of the best sequels I've ever seen.
Favourite Quotes:
"I'd like to drink to Scotland!" -Merlin
"Darling, if you save the world, you can have a backstage pass!" -Elton John
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