An outrageously fun period piece!
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The King's Man is the prequel in the Kingsman franchise, co-written and directed by Matthew Vaughn, aims for an ambitious plot to present the establishment of the elite spy agency. With 2014's splendid Kingsman: The Secret Service and the lukewarm outcome of 2017's Kingsman: The Golen Circle, it comes as no surprise that a prequel would be in the works. And hey - I won’t say no to another excuse to indulge in this sleek, suave, action-filled franchise.
Ralph Fiennes and Harris Dickinson created a very compelling father-son chemistry to the screen, while Djimon Hounsou and Gemma Arterton bring a charm and sophistication to the table that is heart-warmingly endearing. The film truly sparks to life as Fiennes’ assertive charm turns into fierce, fiery determination to protect the people he loves.
The beginning half of the film tends to fall flat with verbose dialogues that are impossible to comprehend in the span of a few seconds. If you happen to be incognizant of the events of World War I (which I was), be prepared to scratch your head at the connections made between characters. However, I am happy to assure you that this is not a huge concern as it will not detract from the brilliant action that is to come in the second half. The King’s Man is as camp as it can get with the perfectly executed scene with the Russian mystic Rasputin (Rhys Ifans) - which I can guarantee will leave you on the edge of your seat, cackling in astonishment.
Admittedly, the film does suffer from a predictable “protecting the family name” storyline along with obvious attempts at keeping it plot twisty. However, the climax of the film are fantastic enough to make it worthwhile - the film definitely takes itself with a pinch of salt to let its satirical nature shine.
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