Matthew Vaughn’s Kingsman: The Secret Service is more of a spoof of various action movie franchises than an original film. The classic action movie one liners were endless, the unnecessary violence and theatrical displays of athleticism were constant, and the character development was almost entirely overlooked. Although this may have been the angle in which the movie was to be produced, somehow they managed to make a purposefully over-the-top movie even more over-the-top to the point where it was borderline disturbing.

The premise of the film is equally as corny and cliche as the acting. The protagonist, Gary “Eggsy” Unwin is a young boy with a knack for getting into trouble with problems at home and is recognized by the top secret espionage department known as “The Kingsman” for his trustworthiness and loyalty. His father was a longtime member of the service, but died when Eggsy was a baby. After being recruited by the service, numerous challenges tested the character and loyalty of each hopeful candidate. The first mission that Eggsy and his counterparts must face is attempting to stop the megalomaniacal global superpower known as “Valentine,”  played by Samuel L. Jackson. Throughout the film, many twists and turns test the Kingsman’s training while they attempt to stop the supervillain who plans to destroy the human race in hopes of securing a brighter future for the planet.

The casting choice for this movie was a bit strange. Colin Firth plays Harry Hart, the level headed and wise leader of the service. He took on the character well, but the scripting was so overdone and clichéd that it distracted from his acting ability. The same was true of Jackson, who was needlessly given a ridiculous lisp which was so forced that you could see him trying to think of what words he would have to use it in. Taron Egerton, who plays Eggsy, was the only bearable character in the movie. His wise-cracking attitude keeps the viewer interested throughout an otherwise uninteresting movie. Just about everything about him was likeable, from his fashion style and quick wit to his heroic ability – those were the only enjoyable parts of the movie

Admittedly, the one liners and occasional slap stick comedy did provoke a good laugh, and the action was exciting. There were clever moments during the training of the soon to be spies, with enticing suspense that kept the audience members on the edges of their seats. But I couldn’t help but feel like I had seen it all before; the handsome hero on a mission to save the world from a philanthropist turned evil, the classic gadgets and cool cars, the twists that anyone could see coming from a mile away, and of course, the sarcastic jokes and sass peppered throughout the movie. Although the premise was clichéd, what Vaughn did that was more unique was make a classic action film horrendously graphic. There were drawn out scenes of senseless killing which left viewers wondering halfway through the scene how much more of it they would have to be subjected to. The movie was supposed to be overdone, but at least set some boundaries. Action movies exist for the plot, for the cleverness, and for the uniqueness, not for seeing a hundred people die in three minutes or less

The movie did contain some morals surrounding the human race’s care for the earth. The antagonist, Valentine, wants to destroy the majority of the human race in hopes of saving the planet from what he thinks is its greatest threat: humans. His philosophy is simple enough, if the parasite of human life continues to grow, the earth or “host” will eventually die. Now this philosophy is obviously incredibly radical and insane, but it does shed a light on the growing issue of global warming. The Kingsman may not make people want to strive towards change, but the message is present nonetheless.

Although this film was completely over the top, it will doubtlessly attract a crowd. Suckers for a good hodge podge of Bond, Bourne, and Bauer, are sure to  love The Kingsman, as influence from past franchises is heavily recognizable throughout the movie. The snarky comedy is enjoyable as well for those who like a good sarcastic remark or quick jokes. But for those of you who can’t stomach a sub par plot and graphic violence, steer clear of The Kingsman. The film is properly rated R for its strong language and violence, though it could’ve been a lot better as a toned down PG-13 movie which focused on stronger character development and a more creative plot. Overall, this isn’t the kind of movie for someone looking for a new and fresh take on an action film.

Kingsman: The Secret Service is currently showing at The Riverview Theater in Minneapolis.  Shows cost $2 for matinees and $3 for evening tickets.