The narrative is kind of a mess – it’s all over the place. But The King’s Man does have its undeniable charms, mostly wrapped within the solid performance by Ralph Fiennes (as the Duke of Oxford) in this long-delayed prequel to 2014’s The Kingsman and its 2017 sequel, all directed by Matthew Vaughn.
Based on the comic The Secret Service, which is about a well-dressed, impeccably mannered spy organization headquartered on London’s Savile Row, the first film in the series set a high bar. It was brutal, yet classy. Graphically violent, yet irreverently funny. This new origin story has some fun, but not the naughty joie de vivre of the other installments. Not as much, anyway.
In the same way Tarantino used real people (Hitler, no less) to re-imagine a fantasy overlaid on history, The King’s Man, set in World War I features everyone from Woodrow Wilson to Rasputin in small but fun roles as part of an ensemble.
20th Century Studios
Plot? Something about getting Russia out of the war so Germany will go after England so America will have to get in the war and…shit, I don’t know. I’ve forgotten. Maybe because the film takes a long break from that storyline in the second act to turn into a straight battle film. The Duke’s dashing son wants nothing more than to serve on the front lines and, against Papa Duke’s wishes, he finds a way to get into trenches for God and country.
It’s not that a complete shift in tone didn’t take us to an interesting story on the battlefield – it’s just that it feels like we changed movies, and then changed back again.
The sets and costumes and breathtaking locations, along with the deliciously over-the-top profanity and good sword fights are all highlights. There are good moments and some good performances. But finally, it’s just too much. Too much story, too long. I’d recommend seeing any of these smaller films first, though The King’s Man will certainly look amazing on a big screen.
