Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017)

Directed by: Matthew Vaughn | 141 minutes | action, adventure, comedy | Actors: Taron Egerton, Edward Holcroft, Gordon Alexander, Mark Strong, Hanna Alström, Calvin Demba, Julianne Moore, Keith Allen, Colin Firth, Michael Gambon, Björn Granath, Lena Endre, Channing Tatum, Halle Berry, Elton John, Jeff Bridges, Pedro Pascal

Matthew Vaughn is a director of extremes. His action scenes are always intense and his dialogues are full of curse words. Rough-mouthed characters with a heart of gold are therefore the core of the majority of his films. In 2014 he surprised friend and foe with ‘Kingsman: The Secret Service’, which managed to combine all the hallmarks of a good Vaughn film and good spy film into a fantastic end product. For the first time in his career, Vaughn came back for the sequel, proving that sequels can be very difficult, even for a seasoned craftsman like himself.

In ‘Kingsman: The Golden Circle’ we once again follow Eggsy (Taron Egerton), the street rat who managed to become a super spy. He’s doing well. His reputation with the privatized secret service Kingsman only grows and he lives with his girlfriend Tilde, the princess of Sweden (Hanna Alström). Moreover, he knows how to alternate his private life and his unusual work, until The Golden Circle strikes. In one attack, the leader of this ruthless criminal organization, Poppy (Julianne Moore), manages to bring an end to all members of the Kingsman. Only Eggsy and gadget expert Merlin (Mark Strong) remain and turn to their American cousins, The Statesman, for help to secure the future of their Secret Service and silence The Golden Circle.

The film already kicks off in top gear, with an incredible chase scene through the streets of London. The feel of the first movement is effortlessly achieved and it is one of the many moments in the print that does. The only difference is the levels of absurdity that are achieved. They shoot through the roof in ‘The Golden Circle’. This makes for a lot of CGI work and a film that never stops for a moment to give the characters breathing space and the development they deserve. There are also cases that are very interesting, but Vaughn hardly decides to think about it.

The American version of Kingsman, for example, is a very nice addition that is never fully explored. For example, Agent Tequila (Channing Tatum), Agent Whiskey (Pedro Pascal), Agent Ginger Ale (Halle Berry) and their boss Champagne (Jeff Bridges) form the insight we get into the organization, but the focus is really only on Whiskey. Unfortunately, this one is the least interesting of the bunch. Tatum and Bridges are barely on screen for more than five minutes and that is a shame as the fun splashes off the screen. That goes for all actors, by the way. Egerton in particular proves once again that he can put a film on his shoulders. He is an actor from whom we will be hearing a lot more. Furthermore, it is mainly experienced hands who steal the show, although Moore may have a little too much fun playing the bad drug lord. So much so that it sometimes seems like she’s in another movie.

Still, it speaks for how the film ultimately comes out on top. It’s all just a little too much of a good thing. Every film by Vaughn has been on the verge of being overdone, but ‘Kingsman: The Golden Circle’ is completely over it. Not only that, the print is even unnecessarily long at two hours and twenty minutes. Then it is all the more harmful to focus on the wrong things. But despite all the negative commentary, it’s still a capable film, only the decline compared to the first part is big. Fortunately, the action is still enjoyable and the happiness of every performer radiates. We now have to wait for ‘Kingsman 3’, although a spinoff of ‘The Statesman’ is also very welcome.