Director: Matthew Vaughn
Cast: Colin Firth, Taron Egerton, Mark Strong, Edward Holcroft, Sophie Cookson, Julianne Moore, Halle Berry, Pedro Pascal, Elton John, Channing Tatum, Jeff Bridges
Storyline: The Kingsman partner with their American counterparts the Statesman to stop the terrorist organisation The Golden Circle from killing millions of innocent people.
In Kingsman: The Golden Circle , director Matthew Vaughn tries to recreate the magic of the series’ first instalment that released in 2014. With the first film, we were introduced to the origins of agent Eggsy (Taron Egerton) who was recruited and trained by Harry Hart aka ‘Galahad’ (Colin Firth bringing forth every ounce of British charm). They’ve saved the world once, replete with their English brand of subdued coolness while dressed sharp as needles in tailored suits. After all, their bespoke attire is courtesy the shop that poses as a front for the secret spy organisation.
In the sequel, it’s been a year since Eggsy has been in the service, taking on his mentor’s moniker of Galahad. People all over the world are being inflicted by a virus that first makes their veins blue, then transports them into a dance mania of sorts and eventually paralyses and kills them. The disease is transmitted through drugs sold by the terrorist organisation The Golden Circle led by Poppy Adams (Julianne Moore). The Kingsman must destroy the evil to save the world... again. To do this they partner up with their American counterparts the Statesman.
When the Kingsman partner with the Statesman, located in Kentucky, every American stereotype is abused. Think cowboys who only wear chequered shirts and bell bottoms with huge belt buckles and hyperbolic accents. One agent has an electronic lasso for a weapon. The British agents though celebrate their stamps: good manners, controlled emotions and impeccable etiquette.
There’s so much happening in Vaughn’s film but not in the way you’d like. He effectively pushed the boundaries of action that often skirted the edges of a parody with the first film. But with the latest, the same trick is applied, leading to hammy results. For instance, Hart’s umbrella (doubling up as a shield) returns, but this time it’s hardly the suave weapon it was earlier. Even the final fight sequence with an incredibly high body count (one gets sliced in two) and endless bullets is yawn inducing.
When things couldn’t quite get worse, it does. There are lines aplenty that go like “my crow is looking for a nest” when Eggsy has to bed a target for the mission. Double innuendos and cheesy lines are mistaken wit. The film has stars like a braggart dropping names to impress someone. In addition to those already mentioned, there’s Halle Berry as Ginger Ale, as the Statesman's tech person; Pedro Pascal as agent Whiskey; Channing Tatum as agent Tequila; and Emily Watson who works with the American President. Even Elton John — forever adorning massive bedazzled sunglasses — makes a lengthy appearance as himself playing a musical hostage to Poppy. A forced and absolutely unnecessary scene sees the singer fight and win against a few henchmen while dressed in diamond-encrusted headgear and boots with a head-to-toe ensemble of multi-coloured feathers.
If you do compel your mind to pay attention you won’t be able to control the cringing that is accompanied. Vaughn has been amazing since his debut with Layer cake (2004), Kick-ass (2010) and the first Kingsman film. With The Golden Circle , he should have toned down everything to make it more palatable.
(The article first appeared in The Hindu CinemaPlus.)