The Wachowskis’ polarizing Speed Racer deftly establishes its world’s many outrageous rules through simple visual aid—and within the first five minutes, no less. With most films, everything after this bracket depends mostly on the makers following through on their word, and if the overall tone fits right in with the many viewers’ individual movie preferences. Kingsman: The Golden Circle sees Matthew Vaughn successfully doing just about the same.
So if you dig the bonkers chase-combat mélange—quite literally the make-or-break for any viewer and what they are to expect—in the first five minutes of the movie, the rest of it will be a joyride. Kingsman: The Golden Circle, much like its predecessor, boasts Vaughn’s unwavering commitment to the hyperreal world he is helped recreate for the screen. This could be detrimental for viewers returning for more of that sweet shock-value; after all, the film is not as stylistically different from The Secret Service.
It is quite clear, however, that Vaughn is here to have the maximum fun he can, what with its foundations long established in the preceding film. Kingsman: The Golden Circle might suffer the bane of the sequel—it is not as new or inventive anymore. It does, however, make up for it considerably by turning the pastiche-knob all the way to a hundred. For those who are not yet acquainted by the finer threads of this universe, imagine an insanely stylish Austin Powers, but bolder, bloodier, and a whole lot more unapologetic than it could ever be.
The real surprise here is Elton John, who plays himself, but with a twist that you have got to see to believe.
It shows. The terrific Julianne Moore (Still Alice) essays a brilliantly written antagonist who, while being conventional on the surface, boasts an incredible image system and character arc. Halle Berry does not have a comparatively meaty screen-time but dons a role that’s quite the sociopolitical commentary on how real the glass ceiling is. Kingsman regulars Taron Egerton (Eddie the Eagle), Mark Strong (Revolver) and Colin Firth (The King’s Speech) are effortless alright, but the real surprise here is Elton John, who plays himself, but with a twist that you have got to see to believe.
Moreover, the parodic elements do not sacrifice sincerity, soul and creative leverage. This unwavering belief in one’s creation might come through at the cost of considerable disappointment—and we would not be surprised. James Gunn’s follow-up to Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is indubitably the most non-Marvel movie in the comic giant’s cinematic universe, and its response may have unsurprisingly been a tad underwhelming at the most. Moreover, should Kingsman: The Golden Circle be met with considerable disappointment, it would not be a surprise.
However, despite its flaws—the faux endings and occasional speed breakers—Kingsman: The Golden Circle is a Golden time at the movies, and considerably better than its predecessor. Director Matthew Vaughn’s passion for the universe shows whether it is through princess Tilde’s sharply formed character arc or the Trump card of a commentary the makers push through slyly via its MacGuffin. Its lovability, however, is subject primarily to the massive expectations people carry with them when they step into the cinemas.
Give yourself into its verisimilitude, however, and you are in for an anything-goes level of bizarre that is as fulfilling as it is competent. Definitely worth the price of your ticket at the movies.
