In 2014, “Kingsman: The Secret Service” introduced filmgoers to the international intelligence agency operating with the highest diplomatic, scholarly and gentlemanly behavior with the ultimate goal of keeping the world safe.
In the 2017 version, “Kingsman: The Golden Circle,” the heroes from the first film (Taron Egerton as Eggsy, Colin Firth as Harry Hart and Michael Strong as Merlin) face a new challenge with a drug kingpin (Julianne Moore) set on not only manufacturing and selling her products but also making them as socially acceptable as alcohol. She gets the Kingsman’s attention by destroying their headquarters and targeting their leadership. To bring the villain down, the Kingsman team up with a previously unknown-to-them American operation called the Statesman, an old, well-respected whisky-making organization with Jeff Bridges, Channing Tatum and Halle Berry playing operatives. They have their own agenda but agree with the Kingsman that the dealer must be dealt with quickly and severely.
“Kingsman: The Golden Circle” thoroughly entertains and it’s a See It!
It follows some of the tried-and-true techniques for action films, such as beginning with an intense, theatrical battle. Despite a vicious fight with multiple, likely bone crushing blows landing to his body and face, Eggsy goes unmarked and his perfectly fitting suit, untarnished.
Also, there’s plenty of the split-second lifesaving, and technology, such as vicious mechanical dogs.
The film also raises questions: Would ground up human beings look like ground beef? Would America have a dishonest man as president?
As to the cast, the performances are fittingly appropriate. None of the roles require any great acting range.
When the Kingsman travel to Kentucky to meet the Statesman, the background music is “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” which is actually about West Virginia. But I guess to the British— Kentucky, West Virginia—what’s the difference?
“Kingsman: The Golden Circle,” cast diversity wise, gets a “B+.” This movie is set in the cloak-and-dagger world of the United Kingdom and U.S., which is primarily a white male environment. However, Halle Berry has a major supporting role as the character, Ginger, in the Statesman organization. And there are other people of color in smaller roles.
“Kingsman: The Golden Circle” is rated R for sequences of strong violence, drug content, language throughout and some sexual material. And my common complaint about films: too long. At 2 hours and 21 minutes, it’s 21 minutes too long.
It gets our highest rating, See It!, because it’s powerfully entertaining!