Kingsman: The Golden Circle - Review & Spoiler

PLOT: After the Kingsman headquarters is destroyed, Eggsy (Taron Egerton) and Merlin (Mark Strong) are forced to team up with their American affiliate, Statesman, and their top agents, Tequila (Channing Tatum), Jack Daniels (Pedro Pascal), and Ginger Ale (Halle Berry) to defeat an evil mastermind, Poppy (Julianne Moore), a drug dealer who is head of the mysterious “Golden Circle” criminal enterprise.

REVIEW: When Matthew Vaughn’s Kingsman: The Secret Service opened in early 2015, we were introduced to the Kingsmen, an independent, self-funded British spy organization dedicated to keeping the world safe whilst, thanks to their cover as a high-end tailors, looking like they’d just stepped out of a Savile Row shop front window. We met Harry Hart aka Galahad, a suave gentleman spy played by Colin Firth with grace, charm and the ability to wield a lethal umbrella. There was Merlin (Mark Strong), the organization’s fastidious Scottish tech guru; Chester King aka Arthur (Michael Caine), a leader with a dark side; Roxy (Sophie Cookson), an eager recruit. And, last but certainly not least, Eggsy (Taron Egerton), a kid from the wrong side of the tracks who is drafted, taken under Harry’s wing, and who finally becomes a real Kingsman, rough edges and all.

Audiences around the world enjoyed the spy thrills and strongly liked each one of the characters in the film. Kingsman: The Secret Service made over $400 million worldwide, and paved the way for a sequel. That sequel is Kingsman: The Golden Circle, in which was a joy and disappointment all in one. Let us explain...

From the moment the 3D words "Kingsman: The Golden Circle" hit the big screen, the film was visually nuts.

Just like the original, Kingsman: The Golden Circle did not skimp on that patented Kingsman craziness. From an opening car chase in which Eggsy has to fight for his life in a Kingsman cab hurtling across London to Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy,” to an all-out assault on Poppyland, and a barroom brawl which deliberately recalls the pub fight sequence from the first movie.

The downfall of the sequel was the kill off of many of the Kingsmen from the first film. One by one, Roxy (Sophie Cookson), Arthur (Michael Caine), and Merlin (Mark Strong) were no more. Seeing their bond cut short rubbed us the wrong way. It was made clear towards the end of the Golden Circle that their replacements for the third installment will be Tequila (Channing Tatum) and Ginger Ale (Halle Berry). Both were great additions to the film and although Tatum was not in the movie as much, seeing a dark and rough side of him was different yet, entertaining.

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As for the supervillain, Poppy, she is a millionaire drug lord with a fetish for ‘50s decor and Elton John (who plays himself). Poppy infects millions with a deadly virus, from deep inside the Cambodian jungle. The virus can only be caught by anyone that does drugs such as, marijuana, heroin, or cocaine. The only way to be cured is to drink a concoction created by Poppy. If not cured, individuals will go through three stages that ultimately ends in a tragic death. To protect her, she has hired different people committed to transporting the drugs and has created robot dogs, who routinely tear apart transgressing henchmen, when they are not being shoved into the meat grinder for burgers. As for Elton John, he plays an eccentric celebrity prisoner used for entertainment purposes only (one of the funniest parts of the movie).

All in all, Kingsman: The Golden Circle was relatively good in comparison to the first. The strange music during the intense fighting scenes was a plus, the CGI was excellent, and it had a few comical moments.Director, Matthew Vaughn is planning to up the ante further, with a third installment of the franchise that will take Eggsy, Kingsman, and the Statesmen on a brand new adventure. “I have a great idea for Kingsman 3,” teases Vaughn. “And it’ll take it to a level that no-one will guess. This movie sets up a lot of what will happen in Kingsman 3. That’s where it all comes together. There’s a whole new world waiting to explode…”

You can see Kingsman: The Golden Circle in theaters September 22, 2017.

Rotten Tomatoes Current Score: 68%

THAheadline Score (THAscore): 8.5/10

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