Argylle (2024) Action Movie Review

If you haven't heard about "Argylle Movie" yet, it's a star-studded film featuring Henry Cavill, Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, Dua Lipa, and more. The intriguing part? The movie is supposedly based on a book of the same name written by Elly Conway, a debut author nobody really knows. Interestingly, the book is legit, published by Penguin and ready for you to grab a copy.

"Argylle," directed by Matthew Vaughn, kicks off with a playful tone. Secret agent Argylle, played by Henry Cavill, crashes a Greek-themed club where he encounters the glamorous LaGrange, portrayed by Dua Lipa. Their dance is interrupted by bad guys, and with the help of his team, Argylle escapes, leading to a chase reminiscent of James Bond.

The characters, including a tech expert (Ariana DeBose) and a sidekick (John Cena), feel like clichés from a cheap spy novel. These characters are actually creations of novelist Elly Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard), who's working on the latest Argylle novel.

The story takes an interesting turn when Elly, facing writer's block, boards a train to visit her mother. On the train, she encounters Aidan (Sam Rockwell), who is not the flashy Argylle but a more realistic spy. Through clever editing, Aidan's face seamlessly transforms into Cavill's, blurring the lines between reality and fiction.

Aidan reveals that Elly is in danger because assassins, sent by Director Ritter (Bryan Cranston) of the undercover agency called the Division, believe she knows the location of a flash drive with classified information. The twist is that Elly's fictional missions in her novels match real missions, making her a potential undercover agent.

As Elly and Aidan team up to recover the flash drive, the plot stays thin but entertaining. The film playfully mocks other adventure films like "National Treasure," "The Lost City," "The Long Kiss Goodnight," and even Vaughn's own Kingsman series, adding a fun and easygoing vibe to the story.

"However, "Argylle" loses its humor and ends up trying too hard to fit the typical spy movie mold. The film struggles to match the quality of better spy flicks and ends up sidelining major stars like Samuel L. Jackson, Richard E. Grant, and DeBose in roles that don't do justice to their talent. The flat lighting and choppy editing, accompanied by the overuse of the Beatles' track "Now and Then," make the film feel forced and inauthentic.

Despite these drawbacks, there are some enjoyable moments in "Argylle." Catherine O'Hara gives a spirited performance reminiscent of Marlene Dietrich in "Witness for the Prosecution," and Bryan Cranston adds humor to his one-dimensional character. However, scenes involving Alfie the cat could be cuter if the visual effects were more polished.

Ironically, for a film sparked by a poorly written final chapter, director Matthew Vaughn struggles to find a satisfying ending. The attempt to explain certain twists in the plot becomes less enjoyable, especially with inconsistent shifts between color and black-and-white photography. Sam Rockwell's eccentric character initially captivates, but the film falters when it pushes him into a romantic lead role.

As the backstory unfolds, Bryce Dallas Howard's performance loses its impact, and the film can't find the right balance between the seriousness it introduces and the lighthearted tone of earlier scenes. The climax, meant to be quirky and operatic, ends up being one of the most uninspiring action scenes ever filmed. Vaughn's attempt to twist fight choreography into overly stretched plastic becomes more of a distraction than a highlight.

It's disappointing that "Argylle" falls short of its potential as a clever parody. Instead of embracing its role as a joke, the film seems to tire of the humor before delivering a satisfying punchline. In its effort to distance itself from being a mere parody and connect with the Kingsman franchise, "Argylle" becomes forgettable and lacks the distinctive charm it could have achieved."

With Vaughn aiming for redemption after "The King's Man," "Argylle" hits theaters on February 2, promising a spy-tacular adventure that blends Matthew Vaughn’s signature style, humor, and unexpected twists. Get ready for a rollercoaster of laughs, suspense, and Vaughn's unmistakable flair!