“Argylle” is a mediocre action movie directed by Matthew Vaughn. It kicks off with Agent Argylle, played by Henry Cavill, infiltrating a club where he encounters a woman named LaGrange, played by Dua Lipa. They have a dance before she escapes. Argylle, with his team, chases her in a scene reminiscent of James Bond. When they catch up, they exchange cliché dialogue. These characters are flat and seem like they’re from a cheap spy novel, as they’re actually creations of author Elly Conway, played by Bryce Dallas Howard, who’s writing a series about Argylle.
In Jason Fuchs’ script, the story keeps moving smoothly as it spoofs spy movies. Elly, struggling with writer’s block and accompanied by her cat Alfie, takes a train to visit her mother, meeting Aidan (Sam Rockwell) onboard. Aidan isn’t the glamorous Argylle; he’s a realistic spy who can blend in. There’s a clever editing trick where, through Elly’s perspective, Rockwell’s face seamlessly shifts to Cavill’s, blurring the lines between reality and fiction.
Aidan is on a mission to rescue Elly, who is being targeted by assassins sent by Director Ritter. They believe she knows about a flash drive with classified information because her novels match real missions. As Elly and Aidan try to find the drive, the plot is thin but entertaining. The movie playfully mocks films like “National Treasure,” “The Lost City,” “The Long Kiss Goodnight,” as well as spy franchises like Bourne and Kingsman.
“Argylle” loses its comedic touch in favor of trying to fit into the standard spy movie mold. It struggles to replicate the success of better films and wastes the talents of actors like Samuel L. Jackson, Richard E. Grant, and DeBose with a weak script. The action scenes lack energy, with uneven lighting and choppy editing. The movie relies heavily on the Beatles’ song “Now and Then,” which feels like a desperate attempt to add excitement. Using John Lennon’s voice from a recently finished demo in such a mediocre action film feels disrespectful.
“Argylle” has some enjoyable moments, with Catherine O’Hara channeling Marlene Dietrich and Bryan Cranston adding humor to his character. The scenes with Alfie the cat would be cuter if the visual effects were better. However, it’s ironic that in a movie about a writer struggling with the ending, director Matthew Vaughn also seems unsure of how to conclude the film.
“Argylle” introduces some convenient twists, but the more the director, Matthew Vaughn, tries to explain, the less enjoyable it becomes. The inconsistent switching between color and black-and-white photography adds to the confusion. Sam Rockwell delivers an entertaining performance until the film pushes him into a romantic lead role, which feels forced. As the backstory unfolds, Bryce Dallas Howard’s performance loses its impact. The movie struggles to find a balance between its newfound seriousness and its earlier lightheartedness. The big hallway set piece, meant to be quirky and dramatic, ends up being one of the most dreary action scenes ever filmed. Vaughn’s direction lacks understanding of how bodies move in space, resulting in awkward fight choreography.
“Argylle” had the chance to be a clever parody but loses steam before delivering the punchline. Director Matthew Vaughn tries too hard to link the film to the Kingsman franchise, resulting in a forgettable and uninspired movie.
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Plot | A mediocre action movie that starts with Agent Argylle infiltrating a club and encounters a woman named LaGrange. The plot involves Elly, a struggling writer, and her involvement with real-life spy missions depicted in her novels. |
| Characters | Flat and cliché characters, including Agent Argylle, LaGrange, Elly Conway, and Aidan. |
| Script | A mix of spoofing spy movies, convenient twists, and attempts to connect with the Kingsman franchise, resulting in a weak and forgettable script. |
| Performances | Some enjoyable performances from Catherine O’Hara and Bryan Cranston, but wasted talent from other actors due to the weak script. |
| Visuals and Effects | Inconsistent visual effects, particularly with scenes involving Alfie the cat. |
| Direction and Editing | Uneven lighting, choppy editing, and lack of understanding in action choreography, resulting in a disappointing direction. |
| Overall Assessment | “Argylle” had the potential to be a clever parody but falls short, losing steam before delivering the punchline. It’s forgettable and uninspired, lacking in both comedy and excitement. |
