Argylle

 

Argylle (2024)

An Ambitious Spy Parody Tangled in Its Own Cleverness

★★½☆☆

A charismatic lead duo trapped in a narrative that sacrifices logic for unearned invention.

Directed by Matthew Vaughn, Argylle is an ambitious tribute to and parody of the spy genre. While it features enough twists, turns, and chases to fill two movies, it ultimately struggles with its own complexity. The film frequently disrupts its own tension with extensive exposition, requiring lengthy flashbacks and monologues to explain the plot's many layers. While Bryce Dallas Howard and Sam Rockwell make for a charismatic twosome, the movie often trades realism for "cleverness" to a fault.

"The ensemble all seem to be winking at the audience, acknowledging the irony of it all and unabashedly sharing how fun this all is for them. It's just a shame that the filmmakers couldn't find that gear and tone to make it all truly special and memorable."

— Ray Manukay

🎬 Cast & Crew

• Director: Matthew Vaughn
• Starring: Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, Henry Cavill
• Supporting: Bryan Cranston, Catherine O'Hara, Dua Lipa, John Cena
• Cinematography: George Richmond

The Vision

Matthew Vaughn attempts to recapture the stylized energy of his Kingsman franchise, leaning heavily into a meta-narrative about authorship and reality. The film is undeniably beautiful, showcasing creative action set pieces and impressive execution across various international locales. However, the vision is hampered by a PG-13 tone and an increasingly off-the-wall, absurd third act that pushes the parody into territory so far-fetched it loses its narrative anchor.

🎬 Cinephile Fun Facts

• The Elly Conway Mystery: Before release, a viral theory suggested that the real-life "Elly Conway" (the fictional author in the film) was actually Taylor Swift, a rumor the director eventually debunked.
• The Cat’s Pedigree: Alfie the cat is actually played by Chip, the real-life pet of director Matthew Vaughn and supermodel Claudia Schiffer.
• Kingsman Connection: Vaughn has hinted in interviews that Argylle exists within a shared universe that may eventually cross over with his Kingsman series.

✅ Pros

• Charismatic and engaging chemistry between Howard and Rockwell.
• Creative action sequences and beautiful global locales.
• Impressive technical execution and high production value.

❌ Cons

• Over-reliance on exposition and lengthy, disruptive flashbacks.
• An increasingly absurd third act that sacrifices narrative logic.
• Winking performances that can feel "too on the nose."

🏆 Final Verdict

Entertaining at a basic level, but ultimately a missed opportunity. Argylle is a flashy, fun diversion that unfortunately outsmarts itself before it can become a genre classic.

View original review on Letterboxd