Looking back at the second chapter of the Kingsman saga, the film remains one of the most gloriously unhinged and frustrating blockbusters of the late 2010s. It is a movie of two halves: the first is a masterclass in narrative sabotage; the second is a neon-drenched, drug-fueled romp through Kentucky.
Do you prefer the original's tailored precision or the sequel's chaotic excess? Sound off in the comments below. film kingsman the golden circle
It has been nearly a decade since Harry Hart (Colin Firth) shut the door on his shop, “Kingsman,” and asked Eggsy (Taron Egerton) if he preferred Oxfords or Brogues. When Kingsman: The Secret Service arrived in 2015, it felt like a live-action cartoon for adults: vicious, stylish, and genuinely shocking. Looking back at the second chapter of the
The plot revolves around Poppy planting poison in all her recreational drugs to force the US President to legalize narcotics. The film tries to have it both ways: it argues that drug users are victims who deserve healthcare, but it also graphically shows the gruesome side effects of addiction (the blue blood melting). It’s a muddled message wrapped in a stylish bow. Sound off in the comments below
So, is Kingsman: The Golden Circle a bad movie? Parts of it are a mess. The runtime is bloated (2 hours and 21 minutes). The CGI is rubbery. And the resurrection of Harry Hart—complete with a "memory retrieval" involving butterfly exposure and a pint of ale—strains even the comic book logic of the universe.