Directed by: Matthew Vaughn
Written by: Jason Fuchs
Director Matthew Vaughn blasted into theaters with his slick crime thriller Layer Cake (2004), which introduced the world to Daniel Craig, who would go on to revitalize the James Bond franchise. Vaughn has previously helmed two X-Men films and is known for The Kingsman series. Vaughn is no stranger to quirky and ultra-stylish films, and from the trailer for this film, you expect a great ensemble cast that includes Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O’Hara, Henry Cavill, Dua Lipa, John Cena, and Samuel L. Jackson. How could this film not be a guaranteed hit? Well, it comes down to style over substance, an overly complicated plot and too frequent fallback on the whole amnesia trope that don’t elevate this film whatsoever. In fact, for me, it felt like the cast was completely underutilized, with the one exception of Rockwell, who is a delight in the film despite the convoluted storyline.
Now here comes the spoilers…
Its plot centers on a reclusive author who is drawn into the world of spies and espionage after she realizes that a new spy novel she is writing mirrors real-world events. Elly Conway (Howard), an introverted spy novelist, has just finished her fifth book about Aubrey Argylle (Cavill), the title character of the eponymous Argylle series. On a train journey to visit her parents, Ruth and Barry, Elly is saved from an ambush by an actual spy, Aidan Wylde (Rockwell), who explains to her that a devious organization, known as the Division, has targeted her because her novels seemingly predict their future. Aidan travels with Elly to England, hoping that her next chapter will reveal how to stop the Division.
They continue to evade and outrun the Division where they arrive in a vineyard in France. This is where I felt the film should just have avoided the typical amnesia trope and kept Elly as a writer instead and let her inadvertently become a secret spy due to all the research and learning she has done over the years to write the novels. Think of it like how Neo in the Matrix films ‘learned’ Kung Fu and was able to recall it instantly and act upon the knowledge in his brain. That would have elevated the story to an entire new level and her gaining confidence that she can do the tasks would grow all the way to the end of the film.
Aside from my issues with the amnesia trope, Aidan Wylde (Rockwell) is a hoot in this film. How they blended fantasy with the film’s reality between Argylle (Cavill) and Aidan switching in Elly’s view is a great gimmick that mostly works. The colorful smoke action sequence is perhaps the highlight of the film, and the oil slick skating is perhaps the least impressive. I think a sequel could be called for, but a strong tie into the Kingsman would greatly benefit the storyline.
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