Critics rating: 4 Stars

Cast:  Colin Andrew Firth, Samuel Leroy Jackson, Taron David Egerton, Sir Michael Caine, Sofia Boutella, Sophie Cookson, Mark Richard Hamill, Mark Strong, Christian Brassington, Fiona Hampton, Jack Arthur Davenport, Neve Gachev, Morgan Watkins, Velibor Topic, Corey Johnson..

Direction: Matthew Vaughn

Produced: Adam Bohling, David Reid, Matthew Vaughn

Written: Jane Goldman, Matthew Vaughn

Genre: Action

Duration: 129 Mins

If this film could get any more fun, it could make a head explode, quite literally and with a comically artistic flair that Matthew Vaughn orchestrates in almost every mayhem-ridden frame. Based on the comic book series The Secret Service by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons, Kingsman: The Secret Service subverts a few spy thriller tropes without compromising on the escapist immoderation of the plot and action.

The tone for the effortless cool is set from the first frame itself when a helicopter cruising over a desert somewhere in the Middle East nonchalantly shoots all the rifled goons in its path before opening fire at a palace. A man is lost in that mission and Harry Hart (Colin Firth) has to break the news to his family. The bravery medal he presents to them has a number at the back. Years later, it will be dialled by the Gary “Eggsy” Unwin (Taron Egerton), the dead agent’s son, which will set the ball rolling for his induction into training at the Kingsmen.

Samuel L Jackson lisps his way through a crazy villain turn as Richmond Valentine, who has grand plans for the human populace. Dancer Sofia Boutella plays Gazelle, his trusted henchman with bionic blades for legs, each swing of her limb an elegant pirouette.

A large part of the film’s class act can be attributed to Colin Firth, whose ‘Galahad’ is every bit the gentleman spy, even in the prelude before a fight when he says, “Manners maketh man”, as he locks the bar door in rhythm with his enunciation. He also gets his best moment in a church scene, which is to be experienced and not discussed here. His character tries to mould Eggsy too and he cites Trading Places, Nikita and Pretty Woman as references, which are lost on his protégé. The film that does ring a bell makes for an unexpected chuckle.

There are several nods to James Bond and the typical genre clichés (subverted here)but it lives up to the director’s intention of composing a love letter to the espionage movies of yore. The film does make it a point to idly observe that they are far too serious now (and perhaps more comic like Get Smart), but trust Matthew Vaughn to deliver on the laughs, wows and the gore like he did with Kick-Ass.

Kingsman: The Secret Service has fast cars, cool gadgets (you miss Q giving quick details on each while asking Bond to return them in one piece), better action than John Wick’s gun fightsbut not the kind of women in the league of the Bond girls. However, the women hold their own here and are not props to be rescued. Sequels will be welcome. This will probably one of the best films you will see in the beginning of this year. Hop on the ride.