GLITZY SPY SEQUEL
IN the first movie,
director Matthew Vaughn introduced movie-goers to this independent intelligence agency that operates with utmost discretion behind the mask of a bespoke tailor shop.
The story follows the life of Gary “Eggsy” Unwin (played by Taron Egerton), who is recruited as a secret service trainee. It’s a crazy but fun ride. For the sequel,
it’s an even crazier ride.
Although many feel the sequel is a flop, my opinion is it is all right. The storyline starts with Eggsy settling into life as a Kingsman agent, inheriting the title of Agent Galahad from his fallen mentor. He now lives with his girlfriend, Swedish princess Tilde (Hanna Alstrom), while living life as a spy.
But when all the Kingsman locales are destroyed and its agents killed, Eggsy and Merlin (Mark Strong) must go in search of the culprits.
With all their resources decimated, they turn to a US organisation called the Statesman to save the world. This is when we are introduced to Channing Tatum and Halle Berry.
Eggsy and his allies, including Harry Hart (Colin Firth) who has now lost his memory after he was shot in the eye in the first movie, face a lot of obstacles.
Their journey to save the world leads them to Poppy (Julianne Moore) who holds the world ransom with a deadly strain of narcotics.
She also holds Elton John (yes, the singer) hostage, as weird as that sounds. His appearance in the movie makes it glitzier and a tad bit strange but the audience loved it.
While the gadgets are mindblowing, the action scenes are kinetic and the fight scenes draggy. The one with Harry destroying a robot dog with a bowling ball is also quite ridiculous but then again, it’s Kingsman.
Some scenes are pretty gory too, like how Poppy heartlessly grinds a human body to make a burger. Disgusting!
What I like about this movie is how it delves deeper into the relationship between Eggsy and Tilde. As the world is being held ransom, his girlfriend is afflicted with a potentially fatal virus. Can he save and marry her in the end?
While cliche-ridden, with a cheesy storyline to boot, I salute the director for making this sequel glitzy.