Kingsman: The Secret Service: A Review

Short version: Colin Firth goes from The King’s Speech to the Kingsman and kicks, punches, and shoots much arse, all while dressed to the nines. (Because, in the immortal words of ZZ Top, "every girl’s crazy about a sharp dressed man.")

See it. You won’t be sorry.

I won’t go into any further detail because it might fun and the movie is a lot of fun (a bit incongruous to say about a film that features a death toll in the six figures but, hey it’s a movie and no actors (or cute dogs) where actually harmed in the making of the movie.)

A few points of interest:

Kingsman and X-men:First Class share certain thematic similarities.

Samuel L. Jackson’s character Valentine is an extension of his Mr. Glass from Unbreakable. (Just not as dour.)

The movie is essentially an update of the 60’s James Bond films, right down to the villain’s mountain hideout and hench(wo)man with a deadly gimmick. (Like Oddjob’s bowler and Mr. Jaws, ah, well jaws.)

After a somewhat lackluster CA:TWS score, Jackman’s Kingsman music is much more on the mark.

While all the fight scenes are exceedingly well done, the standout is the church battle which is just Bat Crap Full Bull Goose Looney.

And stick around for the credits.

Final thoughts: the summer movie season got an early start.