Dangerous pace
It’s fast and fluid, but this spy action-comedy finds its rhythm
The first thing you immediately notice about Argylle is that it is a spy movie perpetually changing pace, direction and shape.
No kidding, the entire production is structured like a concertina, forever fanning out, then folding in on itself.
At a running time of 2¼ hours, some viewers are bound to find the experience a touch on the exhausting side. However, for sheer energy expended in the name of entertainment, most will find in Argylle’s favour.
Getting a grip on the true essence of the plot proves to be a tricky prospect in a busy opening act, with several scenes centring on a James Bond-ish super-spy named Argylle (played with just the right pinch of sarcasm by Henry Cavill).
Just as Argylle’s latest assignment in the Greek Isles appears to be going off the rails (via a multi-rooftop car chase in a clapped-out dune buggy) we are informed that our hero is actually the figment of someone’s imagination.
That someone is Elly Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard), an author who has been steadily building a massive global following for the Argylle character across three bestselling books.
With the fourth volume about to drop, Elly suddenly finds herself embroiled in a real-life case of highstakes espionage that would give her beloved Argylle pause for concern.
Elly’s only way out of this everwidening mess is to put her trust in an actual spy. American undercover operative Aidan (Sam Rockwell) is the polar opposite of the suave, shaken-not-stirred operator like Argylle. He’s a slob. He’s a wise guy. He’s a bit annoying. But nevertheless, Aidan does seem to possess the skills to rescue Elly from the clutches of an international crime syndicate and put her back behind a keyboard where she truly belongs.
As the movie wears on, the line dividing Argylle’s fictional exploits and Aidan’s improvised handling of some difficult situations becomes intriguingly blurred.
As for Elly, just how and where she came to be in possession of so much pinpoint knowledge of the spying world also becomes a mystery that needs further exploration.
With so much going on – and the movie rarely backing off the pace – there can be times where Argylle can be indulging in too much of a good thing.
However, once Rockwell takes tighter control of proceedings in the second half, the movie settles into a rollicking, carefree rhythm most will appreciate.