West Newbury’s John Cena is one of the bright spots in the action spy comedy, ‘Argylle,’ from ‘Kingsman’ director Matthew Vaughn.
By Dana Barbuto/Boston Movie News
When it’s fun, it’s a blast; when it’s not, the espionage action-comedy “Argylle” is a total drag. What’s missing? Intrigue. Without it, the star-studded cast, exotic locations, and over-the-top action are left in a compromised position.
The script by “Wonder Woman’s” Jason Fuchs focuses on Elly Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard), a successful spy novelist swept into the real world of tradecraft. Suddenly, the fictional exploits of her dashing secret agent, Argylle (Henry Cavill), become her own, as a dangerous crime syndicate seeks to capture Elly and utilize her uncanny ability to predict the organization’s actions and movements. It’s a case of art imitating life, and Elly, a cat-loving introvert with a fear of flying, finds herself in peril.
The only person who can protect her is Aidan (Sam Rockwell), a CIA op. They meet on a train, and she dismisses him as an overzealous fan, not the superspy he claims to be. But she acquiesces once the gun-toting goons appear, and Aidan and Elly (with her cat Alfie stuffed in her backpack) are forced to escape via paraglider. The rest of the movie is 139 l-o-n-g minutes of close calls, daring escapes, double-crosses, explosions, rooftop chases, and every other trope from the spy-flick playbook. Fuchs has scripted twists on top of twists, and none are surprising. Plus, there are no cool high-tech gadgets. Where’s a good quartermaster when you need one?
The movie, directed by Matthew Vaughn (the “Kingsman” movies), boasts a stacked deck of talent that includes Dua Lipa, Samuel L. Jackson, Bryan Cranston, Ariana DeBose, Catherine O’Hara, Jon Cena, and more. Their high-wattage star power keeps you engaged, at least for the first 100 minutes. That’s when I checked the time and realized there were still 40 minutes to go.
But it would seem much more of an eternity sans Rockwell, whose aw-shucks charm and smart-aleck humor ground the movie. He’s the character you root for the most. Howard is equally adept with her cat-lady-novelist shtick but falters when called upon to do more. And whose idea was it to dress her in garish yellow sequins? She deserves better.
Vaughn knows his way around significant action set pieces, as demonstrated in the three “Kingsman” movies and “Kick-Ass.” He delivers a few great visual gags, blending fiction and reality in sequences where Cavill’s Agent Argylle pops in and out of Elly’s vision while looking at Aidan.
Problems arise in a third act guilty of action overload. That’s when the story begins to drag, with each chase and shootout possessing a dulling sameness. Instead of gunplay, why not cleverer wordplay and spycraft? A tad more character development wouldn’t hurt, either. And the jarring shifts from actors to stunt doubles only add to the phoniness.
But if you’re gifted with a high tolerance for plot contrivances, unanswered questions, and thin character development, have at it. You can’t say the film, certain to become a franchise, doesn’t have its pleasures. Even in an unflattering flat-top haircut, Cavill (“Mission: Impossible” and “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.”) is the epitome of suave, impeccable style. If this is his 007 audition, then consider it a success.
West Newbury native Cena also deserves kudos for his humorous take on the beefy sidekick role. And pop-star Dua Lipa adds allure as the sexy femme fatale. They need to be in the film more.
There’s no denying “Argylle” has potential. Let’s hope the next one lives up to it.
‘Argylle’
Rating: PG-13 for strong violence and action and some strong language.
Cast: Bryce Dallas Howard, Henry Cavill, Dua Lipa.
Director: Matthew Vaughn.
Writer: Jason Fuchs
Running time: 139 minutes
How to watch: In theaters Friday, Feb. 2.
Grade: C+
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