Kingsman: The Secret Service

Plot: A spy for the private spy agency, Kingsman, gets killed, and years later his son Eggsy (Taron Egerton) is given a try-out to become an agent. Colin Firth, Mark Strong, and Michael Caine play other agents. After drowning, fighting, parachute dropping and dog shooting, Eggsy goes out to battle mad billionaire Valentine (Samuel L Jackson) and his blade running assistant Gazelle (Sofia Boutella). [imdb]    [photos]

Review: Kingsman is a spoof of a spy movie, but the ridiculousness starts slowly and then gets sillier and sillier. There is a lot of killing but the deaths are video game style, so it is not gruesome.

Colin Firth is the best character, because he had personality. The other characters were dull, including Eggsy, who did not believably transform from druggy-dropout to ass-kicking aristocrat. Mark Strong's Merlin, who was like Bond's Q, was solid.

Kinsman's English social satire never worked for me. I was hoping for a little depth around the villain Valentine's hatred of global warming, but that never happened. Valentine is a spoof of Richard Branson, who runs Virgin Mobile/Air/Records.

In sum, Kingsman started slow, but the end was entertaining.

Cast: Colin Firth (the main character), Taron Egerton (the hero), Samuel L Jackson (I loved his lisp. Funny), Mark Strong (cool and likable), Michael Caine (really again? I am tired of him.)

Directed by: Matthew Vaughn

Based on: The graphic novel by Millar and Gibbons (who also wrote Kick-Ass)

The Music: The big action scenes have a lively orchestral score, but the quiet scenes are nothing special. Composed by Henry Jackman and Matthew Margetson.

The Visuals: The best special effect is Sofia Boutella's feet, which were electronically replaced by razor sharp, spring blades. The fights are fun, but not cool or spectacular.

Rating: 2.5 stars: Fun to watch. 

More: One fight scene shows the view as a 1st person shooter video game to make the killing not seem sadistic.

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