Action and mayhem poor disguise for soulless plot

MOVIE REVIEW /

For all its breathless action, mind-boggling gadgets and stylized fight sequences, nothing much happens in the comic-book, spy caper “Kingsman: The Golden Circle.”

It’s a sequel seeking to set up the next sequel.

The first order of business in ensuring future movies is the resurrection of special agent Harry Hart (Colin Firth), who was thought to have been killed off in the original, “Kingsman: The Secret Service.”

The bullet that Hart took in the eye, it turns out, wasn’t a big deal; he’s practically good as new, except for his pesky amnesia.

Our suspension of disbelief has its limits, though, even in intentionally absurd movies such as this.

The second order of business is introducing a new group of American agents to help their British counterparts save the world. The Directed by Matthew Vaughn.

R (for sequences of strong violence, drug content, language throughout and some sexual material) 2:21 at the Columbus 10 at Westpointe, Crosswoods, Dublin Village 18, Easton 30, Gateway, Georgesville Square 16, Grandview, Grove City 14, Lennox 24, Movies 16 Gahanna, Movies 11 at Mill Run, Pickerington, Polaris 18, River Valley, Screens at the Continent theaters and South drive-in

Yanks, who are hunkered down at a distillery in Kentucky, are apparently there to infuse new life into the story, but they end up being one of the most boring lineup of spies ever assembled: Champ (Jeff Bridges in perhaps his most unmemorable role ever); Tequila (Channing Tatum, who disappears quickly) and Ginger (Halle Berry, trying to stay awake).

The plot, such as it is, centers on a drug-cartel leader named Poppy (Julianne Moore), who infects her drugs with a substance that endangers all of its users. Only she has the antidote, and she will release it only if the U.S. president legalizes her drug monopoly.

Moore plays Poppy with a bizarre mix of the sugary and evil.

The main person holding up the movie is Hart’s dashing young protege, Eggsy (Taron Egerton, solid), whose boyish charm is hard to resist. But now that Eggsy has been transformed from an unrefined street kid into a suave super-agent, his character has little room for growth in the sequel.

Director Matthew Vaughn, who cares about character more than many other action directors, tries to make up for the shortcoming by injecting a romantic side to Eggsy — he dates a Swedish princess — but their relationship falls painfully flat.

With plot and character development in short supply, then, the talented Vaughn concentrates on doing what he does best: staging operatic action sequences. They might lack logic and rely on an orgy of CGI effects, but Vaughn shows that he’s master at audacious set pieces, including an over-the-top fight scene involving a kidnapped Elton John (playing himself and stealing a scene or two).

Despite the mayhem, “The Golden Circle” often feels belabored, particularly in its middle section, when inspiration is nowhere and the chaos feels gratuitous.

By the time we reach the end, and the perfunctory setup for the next “Kingsman” installment is revealed, our brains are akin to Silly Putty.

Note to the filmmakers: Try using the “delete” or “trim” button on your editing keyboards. It will cleanse your soul — and ours.