Well it is here. The first great film of 2015 (I have not seen Paddington, but I heard great things). Matt Vaughn directed this film, and I have been a huge fan of his since Kick-Ass. I really enjoyed this spy, action, comedy flick but I still had several problems.
Manners Maketh Man
First of all, this is how action should be done. I am going to compare the action in this film to Tak3n. Tak3n uses only shaky cam, and by doing so the audience is unable to see who is fighting who. There are also so many cuts within a sequence that the sequence becomes illegible. However, this film uses some shaky cam and does so in a way that it adds tension. It is not shaky enough to cause nausea or confusion. As far as the way the fights are constructed, I found them visually interesting. The effects used are not always convincing, but the film is goofy enough that I do not mind that as much. I really liked the choreography of the fights, as well as the filming. Along with the awesome action scenes, the cast is pretty amazing. Everyone was great, but the standouts are definitely Taron Egerton, Colin Firth, and Samuel L. Jackson. First of all, Firth plays sophistication very well, but he really shines in the action. He proves to be a capable fighter, and add some fantastic style to the choreography. Samuel L. Jackson pretty much gave a laugh in every scene he was in, but he also remained menacing throughout. That is just a testament to his fine acting abilities. Finally, this is the first film I have seen Egerton in. He was phenomenal. Not only did he prove himself in the action scenes, but he handled drama and comedy very well. I hope to see more of him in the future. While I had some problems with the plot (more on that in the next paragraph) I also found aspects of the plot great. It took some great twist and turns which kept me thoroughly engaged throughout the film.
If you’re prepared to adapt, you can transform.
The film definitely has a lot going for it, but there are some aspects of it that hold it back. First of all, the plot is relatively simple. While the twists kept it fresh, I wish there were not so many clichés. There were also some questionable moments concerning several characters. They are minor characters, but it still took me out of the film. My final complaint is with the ending. I actually liked the ending quite a bit, but it had a lack of closure. I had a handful of questions left that I felt were necessary to be answered. With that said, I truly hope there is a sequel. I think this could be a very successful franchise.
Closing Remarks
There are two major film playing in cinemas this weekend: 50 Shades of Grey, and Kingsman. I know what the outcome will be according to the box office, but if you read this review I implore you to see this over that. It really is a great film that never fails to entertain. But, I would not recommend taking children to see it.