Kingsman: The Secret Service

British director Matthew Vaughn wanted to make a James Bond movie, but was rejected by the Broccoli family, who control the franchise. So he instead made this rowdy spy romp, spoofing dapper gentlemen involved in international intrigue. During the prologue, British superspy Harry Hart (Colin Firth)—aka Galahad—is involved in a botched Middle East mission that costs the life of one of his cohorts. Seventeen years later, Hart comes to the rescue of that man's son, Gary “Eggsy” Unwin (Taron Egerton), a troubled South London street kid. Hart is a member of an elite, super-secret organization of aristocratic spies, known as Kingsman, who work out of a swank Saville Row tailor shop. They operate beyond the purview of any government, taking code names from legendary Knights of the Roundtable. When a Kingsman dies, inscrutable Arthur (Michael Caine) holds a competition for his replacement. Hart nominates Eggsy, who finds himself up against highborn snobs. Even as Eggsy is being tested by Merlin (Mark Strong), a brilliant but batty tech billionaire (Samuel L. Jackson) launches a bizarre scheme to cull Earth's population by offering free cell phone/Internet service. Based on the graphic novel by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons, Kingsman is full of derring-do and outrageous gadgets: bulletproof blazers, wrist darts, poison-spiked shoes, etc. Using an exaggerated lisp, Jackson steals scenes, while suave, sophisticated Firth proves to be an adroit, impeccably stylish action hero, and Sofia Boutella dazzles as a henchwoman, taking out foes with flexible blade-runner legs. Recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include a “Panel to Screen: The Education of a 21st Century Super-Spy” featurette (10 min.), photo galleries (behind-the-scenes, set, and props), and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is a six-part behind-the-scenes documentary (92 min.), and bonus digital and UltraViolet copies of the film. Bottom line: a decent extras package for a fun, action-packed spy flick.] (S. Granger)