Kingsman: Too Afraid to Be Original

Kingsman: The Golden Circle takes everything that was successful in the first movie and throws it into a convoluted plotline, hoping for the best. While entertaining, Kingsman failed to get past the beginning stages of a great movie. From the start it appeared promising, but once the film got underway, two important movie concepts never got ahead of those baby steps: character and plot development. They lagged behind as the rest of the movie sped past with Matthew Vaughn’s signature fast-paced, action-packed direction. Watching expectantly, the observer nearly forgets there’s anything more to a film than tons of action, flashy gadgets, and sick comedy. Kingsman: The Golden Circle tries to live up to its predecessor but fails in dipping too far into the cookie jar of its past.

Although Vaughn may have failed in his direction of this project, the acting stays on par with the Golden Circle’s precursor Kingsman: The Secret Service. Taron Egerton and Mark Strong steal the show with their delivery of solid performances on set, while Colin Firth leaves much to be desired in his role as amnesiac Harry Hart, former agent of Kingsman. In the first Kingsman film, Colin Firth shows his profound prowess as a strong fatherly figure within this fictional secret intelligence agency. Without these powerful attributes, Firth’s character seems ceremonially stripped away until all that we are left with is an actor unsure of what he is physically acting. Without his confidence, the audience quickly loses interest and is left with slight discomfort every time he opens his mouth. Besides the aforementioned performances, there isn’t much more of significance to be said in regards to the overall acting.

Even though the plotline was undoubtedly eclectic, there are a few honorable mentions that can be surgically withdrawn from the mess that is called Kingsman: The Golden Circle. One is the infamous brutal humor that is deployed almost strategically throughout the movie. Another can be found in the charm that develops as a result of the ingenious mesh between American culture and that of the British Kingsman. This combination provides for a mix of banter and cultural self-deprecation that almost saves the movie. Almost.

In conclusion, Kingsman: The Golden Circle finds itself in that class of movie labeled as unoriginal. Too afraid to strive forward and create new sequences, Kingsman takes a step in the wrong direction and follows what was successful in the past, which is never an effective option.