by Brandon Matzke

Rating: TV-14

Isn’t this movie rated R? Well, yes and no. When it was released in theaters, it was rated R. But when it was released on television, it was toned down (slightly) to a TV-14. And seeing as the sequel comes to theaters September 22, it seems like the perfect time to review this modern cult classic. Now, with that out of the way, let me review this movie…. like a gentleman.

The plot of Kingsman is rather simple, yet crazy. A rebellious teenager (played by Taron Egerton) is forced into joining the Kingsman: a tailor shop famous across Britain. Of course, there’s more to it than that; the Kingsman is actually a secret agent agency, protecting the world from whatever threats approach. Mentored by the famous Harry Hart (played excellently by Colin Firth), the rookie agent must take on the maniacal Valentine (played by Samuel L Jackson), and his evil henchwoman Gazelle (a woman with literal blades for legs). Believe me, that’s the easiest way to describe the zaniness in this film.

For one, the action is amazing. I loved every action scene, and each one was filmed perfectly. Especially the church sequence. That may be one of the best fight scenes I have ever seen on film. I promise not to spoil it, but trust me when I say that it’s breathtaking.

This is a goofy movie. The film has a great lack of self-seriousness, despite what the trailer promoted. From start to finish, there isn’t a single scene that takes itself too seriously. And that’s for the best.

It is supposed to be a love letter to campy spy movies of the 1960s. Well, a very violent love letter, but still a love letter. And apparently, that was the intent. Matthew Vaughn (the director) once had a discussion with comic book legend Mark Millar about how spy movies had become way too serious, and he wanted to do a type of film that payed homage to the classic 60’s campiness, but to “give it a modern spin”. As a result, a 60’s inspired “take over the world” plot is mixed with modern technology, some brutal yet jaw-dropping action scenes, and some pretty fun performances to watch (especially from the usually dramatic Colin Firth). Kingsman isn’t perfect, but it’s still a ton of fun for spy movie genre fans, and gets a 10/10. Is it the best spy movie ever? No. Nothing can beat Casino Royale (2006). But it still is a blast.

What the critics say:

Rotten Tomatoes: 78%

IMDb: 7.7/10