Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)

My Review

In a year of numerous action-adventure movies, it takes a lot for one of them to stand out, such as a high quality script, good directing, and excellent performances. “Kingsman: The Secret Service” has none of these qualities. Director Matthew Vaughn, who co-wrote the screenplay with Jane Goldman, relies too heavily on cliche-spewing characters and graphic (albeit cartoonish) violence. The actors do little more than recite lines given to them by Vaughn and Goldman. The story tells of a global threat by a tech genius, just as Her Majesty’s government’s spy agency gains new recruits.

Colin Firth, Taron Egerton, Mark Strong, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Caine, Sofia Boutella should be ashamed of themselves for their poor contributions to this project. Only Mark Hamill is believable, but his part is only a cameo appearance. The boring “Kingsman: The Secret Service” was a success in theatrical release for Marv Films, Cloudy Productions, and 20th Century Fox. Filming took place primarily in London, UK. Sequels include “Kingsman: The Golden Circle” (2017), “The King’s Man” (2021), and “Argylle” (2024).