The Special Relationship

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“The Special Relationship”

A Review of Kingsmen: The Golden Circle by Nick Olszyk

MPAA Rating, R

USCCB Rating, O

Reel Rating, Three Reels            

            It is often said that the United Kingdom and the United States share a “special relationship” due to their common history, culture, language, origin, and slightly dull name. Kingsmen: The Golden Circle is a beautiful tribute to that kinship. It is also a zany cartoon, funny spy parody, tear-jerking bromance, and oddly compelling anti-drug PSA. Despite some flaws, it was not only better than the original but the most fun I’ve had at the movies this year…so far. The Last Jedi is still three months away.

            Eggsy (Taron Egerton) is now a seasoned Kingsman protecting the world on a regular basis, but he is about to face his greatest challenge yet – meeting his girlfriend’s parents. While the dinner does not go as planned, it does get him out of the house while a 50s nostalgia obsessed drug lord named Poppy (Julianne Moore) kills every other Kingsman agent. Lacking resources, Eggsy and his quartermaster Merlin (Mark Strong) initiate “Doomsday Protocols” which leads them to discover another secret spy service in the US called the Statesmen. Kingsmen came from tailors, Statemen from bootleggers. It makes sense. Together, they set out to uncover and stop Poppy’s villainous scheme, meeting several surprise guests along the way.

            It should not be shocking to anyone who has seen Circle’s predecessor The Secret Service that the film contains an enthusiastically high amount of violence with just a dash of obligatory spy sex. Yet, it is all done in both an examination and parody of the genre. For example, as an initiation ritual, Poppy makes one of her stooges kill another less loyal stooge, put him in the meat grinder at her carhop diner, then eat him as a cheeseburger. It’s not that these kinds of images are acceptable behavior, but they are so over the top that it is impossible to interpret this as anything but fantasy. It’s to same kind of narrative style the Bible uses to bring the evil queen Jezebel to her demise:

“Throw her down!” Jehu said. So, they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered the wall and the horses as they trampled her underfoot. But when they went out to bury her, they found nothing except her skull, her feet, and her hands.  They went back and told Jehu, who said, “This is the word of the Lord that he spoke through his servant Elijah the Tishbite: On the plot of ground at Jezreel, dogs will devour Jezebel’s flesh. Jezebel’s body will be like dung on the ground in the plot at Jezreel, so that no one will be able to say, ‘This is Jezebel.’” – 2^nd Kings 9:33, 35-37

Even Jesus uses this kind of hyperbole when encourages the faithful to “pluck out their eyes” rather than commit any sin. For the most part, Kingsmen understands this kind of storytelling well and uses it to great humor.

            Yet any use of art requires vigilance, especially when engaging violence, sexuality, and coarse language. In this regard, Kingsmen occasionally loses its way – not so much in the display of such negative elements but how their use can undermine important themes. This is especially apparent in the death of a supporting character who previously helped Eggsy but is revealed as double agent. The film prides itself on valuing human love and connection even if it can interfere with official duties. This character has misguided but understandable reasons involving his deceased spouse that lead him to help Poppy. His eventually death is completely out of proportion to his development and the Kingsmen sense of honor. Such a letdown makes it difficult to enjoy the film when it does use these techniques properly.

            Despite its tongue-in-cheek sensibilities, Kingsmen does have a heart and conscience. It affectively demonstrates the lack of empathy employed by the drug trade, including the recently innocent cannabis. Poppy is willing to kill literally every one of her users to get what she wants.  At the same time, Kingsmen generates compassion towards those who suffer from addiction while not excusing their behavior. Kingsmen also does a good job promoting traditional heroism against socially progressive megalomania. The President is fine with letting drug users perish, but the Kingsmen understand that all humans have dignity and deserve protection, independent of their past transgressions. You simply can’t fix the problems of the world by killing millions but loonies like Joseph Stalin, Ernst Blofeld, and Margret Sanger will never learn that.

            Its flaws acknowledged, The Golden Circle is just wonderful entertainment. It knows it is ridiculous, and we love that it knows. This kind of trust even allows for moments of genuine sweetness, as when a beloved character sacrifices himself for the greater good. I shed a tear in a James Bond knock-off. Wow. Austin Powers never did that for me.