Movie Review: Kingsman: The Secret Service

 Kingsman was our planned movie for Valentine's Day (not going anywhere near 50 Shades). Colin Firth, Michael Caine, Samuel L Jackson, Mark Strong and new-comer Taron Egerton star in what is probably the best spy-action-comedy-movie in a long time.
The most important thing I need to tell you about this movie is DO NOT TAKE YOUR KIDS. This is a R-rated movie meant for older audiences.  The IMdB parent guide grades this with an overall 37/50; 10/10 for violence and,  9/10 for profanity, 8/10 fight scenes, 6/10 for alcohol/drugs/smoking and 4/10 sex/nudity.
We thoroughly enjoyed this movie.  First off I'm not a blood and gore kind of person. In factValentine, played by Jackson, can't stand the site of blood and projectile vomits whenever he sees any. Actually with the exception of a scene in a church there wasn't much blood, I'm not going to tell you how a movie this violent gets away with that as it is a major plot line.  I'll admit I did turn my head away once or twice but I also closed my eyes during a preview.  This movie was written, directed and co-produced by Matthew Vaughn, of Stardust, Kick-Ass and X-Men: First Class fame.  Known for incredibly well staged action scenes he came through once again for his fans.  Do not let the preview that's been running on TV with Colin Firth educating thugs in a bar be what you set your expectations of action on as it is pretty light in comparison. I enjoyed how the movie pokes fun at itself.  In an interview with John Stewart, Colin Firth shared that if there's a list of guys least likely to be cast as the lead in an action movie he believes he was appropriately at the top of the list.  This is not a remake of James Bond.  This is not Mortdecai.  This is the kind of movie that Valentine and Galahad (Firth) discuss wanting to see as kids where the action is high and the good/bad guys are clearly defined.  Twice in the movie the line "this isn't that kind of movie" is used.  While the movie doesn't take itself too serious it never crossed over into the dumb arena.  This also isn't a boys only club which adds a nice twist to the idea of Bond Girls.  Sophia Cookson's Roxy is just as tough and at one point even tougher than the boys.  This movie was a bit long at just over two hours, actually almost two and half hours with 7 previews.  This very well may be the first of a franchise so there was a lot of groundwork being set which does add to length.  Vaughn has already stated that he has ideas for a sequel including an American branch of the Kingsman. 
Next Movie: Black or White Kevin Costner and Octavia Spencer.  I'm going to see this on Monday, President's Day, as hubby is taking Meg to see SpongeBob which I am most definitely NOT seeing.  Even though she's 17 wants Dad to take her as they saw the first SpongeBob movie together (better him than me), and their next movie will be horror ~~Thank heavens for Dads Meg wasn't feeling well so we didn't go McFarland Kevin Costner trains small town athletes into Cross Country team
Previews ~ 7!! Gotta love premiere weekend The links will take you to the movie's offical trailer and might not be appropriate for all. Hot Tub Time Machine 2  ~ Feb 20 ~ didn't see the first so not planning on the second Lazarus Effect ~ Feb 27 ~ Olivia Wilde ~ Flatliners (1990) remade into horror ~ Nope Insurgent ~ March 20 ~ Sequel ~ read the book so probably  Unfriended ~ April 17th ~ Cyber-horror~Nope Ant-Man ~  July 17th~ Paul Rudd ~ It's Marvel so I'll see it Fantastic Four ~ August 7th ~ Remake that changes all we know ~ CHA Hitman Agent 47 ~ August 28 ~ Action/Spy ~ maybe depends what else is out