KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE

For a rather dull summer box office, Kingsman: The Golden Circle offered what the majority of Hollywood’s summer flicks couldn’t, entertainment.

Sure, it’s not the smartest film, not the most intellectual film, but it sure does deliver some bad-ass action sequences, complex camera movement, a narrative that is mostly engaging, and some good laughs.

Kingsman: The Golden Circle, picks up a year after the events of the first film and the narrative doesn’t waste any time in reminding the audience of the film’s hyperactive, adrenaline filled stylistic approach.

Gary ‘Eggsy’ Unwin: We’re from the Kingsman tailor shop in London. Maybe you’ve heard of us.

Eggsy is now dating someone, there is a new underground criminal society, and by the end of the film’s first act, the criminal society, at that point known as The Golden Circle, carries out a hit on all the Kingsmen, leaving Eggsy and Merlin as the lone survivors.

This narrative choice is understandable and smart, when one considers the amount of new characters that enter the world of Kingsman. 

This strategy also prevents a sequel to repeat events or narrative beats from its prequel.

After the tragic events and Michael Gambon’s short lived Arthur, clearly anyone named Arthur in the Kingsman universe has as much luck surviving as Sean Bean does, Eggsy and Merlin travel to the U.S. of A. and meet their American counterpart, the Statesman.

From there on, conspiracies arise, Julianne Moore makes her devilish albeit cartoony villainess debut, and director Matthew Vaughn, who returns to helm a sequel for the first time,  throws in action sequence upon action sequence all the while attempting to comment on the United States’ current political state.

Agent Tequila: [to Eggsy] Welcome to Statesman.

What is charming about this sequel is the fact that it doesn’t pretend to be something it’s not.

High-octane action, over-the-top choreography, gadgets, and drug-based plan to “take over the world” all are part of this enjoyable film. 

With that in mind, however, the narrative does not hold up in comparison to its predecessor, and feels rather wobbly. 

For all of Julianne Moore’s perfect performance, the villain does not seem as threatening as the film strains to tell the audience.

The entire cast fully embody their characters, yet much like with Moore’s Poppy, the overall narrative feels like it lacks some kind of flair.

Poppy: Kingsman, it’s crumpets.

Where the first film had a certain class, and quite a smartly bound screenplay, many moments in this film feel forced and fabricated in order to serve some dramatic beat.

On the other side of the battlefield, however, the film is fun, and delivers some brilliant moments with heart, without dilly-dallying and firing the story forward.

Fast-paced edits, an energetic score that gets one’s blood pumping, and fight choreography that make combat feel like complicated dance routines. 

What’s brilliant about these fights is the camera work, which swerves, and curves, and rotates around the characters keeping the audience engaged in the moment.

Gary ‘Eggsy’ Unwin: We’ve got brains, skills…skipping rope?

Agent Whiskey: It’s a lasso.

Gary ‘Eggsy’ Unwin: Whatever.

The film overall works, sure it’s not rocket science, but it works and it holds up for its running-time.

Definitely leaving the door open for a possible third chapter, Kingsman: The Golden Circle doesn’t tie up all loose ends but delivers a satisfying ending.