HBOWatch Editors were not able to line-up a writer to review KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE but that doesn’t mean that we don’t want to draw your attention to it. The movie is a sequel to KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE which we reviewed back in 2015. The simple plot this time around is that the operatives of the secret British intelligence agency are now teaming up with their American counterparts after a devastating attack on their headquarters. Together they face Poppy Adams, the leader of the world’s largest drug cartel, the Golden Circle. Da, Da, DAHH!
To accomplish the task are Colin Firth retuning as Harry Hart and Taron Egerton returning as Eggsy as the tutor & mentor in the spy game and Mark Strong as Merlin. Their villain, Poppy, is played by Julianne Moore and the State-side spies in on the action are Halle Berry as Ginger Ale, Channing Tatum as Tequila, Pedro Pascal (GAME OF THRONES’ Oberyn Martell) as Whiskey and Jeff Bridges as Champagne. Sir Elton John (yeah, that one) appears as himself. Here is a trailer to help you along:
This movie, like its predecessor, was produced and directed by Matthew Vaughn and written by Vaughn and Jane Goldman. So, is it fun? Is it funny? We, it did get mixed reviews when it came out. Rolling Stone’s Peter Travers gave the film 2.5 stars out of 4 and wrote “The stunts defy the laws of gravity but are no less fun for that; watch out for the fight on the ski lift. Even when Kingsman: The Golden Circle goes off the rails and it inevitably does, this cracked caper wears you down with action and giggles. Sometimes overkill can hurt so good.” Matthew Lickona of the San Diego Reader said that “if the first played like a simultaneous homage to and parody of Sean Connery’s Bond, the second feels like a straight riff on the Roger Moore era: bloated, self-conscious, and smug, with only the occasional flash of nasty wit to put the edge on.” And, as always we check with Rotten Tomatoes:
So whether the movie is a good laugh or way too over the top to enjoy is entirely up to the viewer. The only way to find out is to watch it for yourself. It debuts Saturday, June 23 at 8:00pm. Feel free to let us know what your take is below.
