I spy familiar beats from helmer Vaughn Wild ride has a few genuine shocks
Argylle
Kingsman trilogy director Matthew Vaughn is back in the world of espionage with wild ride Argylle.
Jason Fuchs (Wonder Woman) wrote the script which tells the story of reclusive author Elly Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard) who pens novels about a secret agent and global spy syndicate.
Life begins to imitate art when Elly realises the plot of the new book she is writing starts to mirror real-world events – placing her life in danger.
Anyone familiar with Vaughn’s Kingsman shooting and aesthetic style will be in their comfort zone with Argylle; manic action set-pieces, glitzy glamour mixing with a fish-out-ofwater protagonist, patchy CGI and a cavalcade of colourful characters all make appearances.
The film’s biggest asset are the many twists and turns in the story. One or two you can see coming but there are a couple of genuine shockers that completely turn the movie on its head.
Dallas Howard is much more convincing as a timid writer than during other beats her character is given and it’s a wickedly entertaining Sam Rockwell (Aidan Wilde) who has the most fun.
A flat-topped Henry Cavill proves his Bond credentials as the embodiment of Elly’s literary hero, singer Dua Lipa (Lagrange) shows she may have a future in acting with an eye-catching small appearance and Bryan Cranston (Director Ritter) and Catherine O’Hara (Ruth) supply their trademark class.
Alfie the Cat really could have been a scene-stealer but too many of his hijinks are digitally rendered, and we spend too much time on the road with Elly and Aidan before getting to the heart of the movie’s matter.
The action highlight is a wonderful multi-colour smoke showdown set to Leona Lewis’ cover of Snow Patrol’s Run, while Aidan’s disposal of goons in a train carriage cleverly switches between Rockwell and Cavill from Elly’s pointof-view.
The ending and a mid-credits scene tease an exciting connection to, and future for, this planned trilogy, but I wonder if the cat has already been let out of the bag in terms of its best twists and surprises.
●Are you a fan of Matthew Vaughn’s films? If so, which are you favourites?
Pop me an email at ian.bunting@ reachplc.com and I will pass on your comments – and any movie or TV show recommendations you have – to your fellow readers.