‘The King’s Man’ review: Ralph Fiennes stars in prequel as to end ‘Kingsman’ series as it expands
Although the original players are yet to be born, Ralph Fiennes’ compelling perspective portrays the Duke of Oxford, the founder of the secret service that protects the UK and the world from existential threats, sounds intriguing, especially with the fight as a backdrop. The implementation, alas, is not likely to happen.
The Duke of Fiennes has the King’s ear (Tom Hollander, on three missions by playing the king’s royal cousin in Russia and Germany), as he seeks to end the war. Oxford operates with its loyal allies Shola (Djimon Hounsou) and Polly (Gemma Arterton), attracting a network of servants and domestics that lie adjacent to power and thus keep a deep secret. their furthest.
However, “The King’s Man” keeps its own secrets close to the vest for a bit too long, including the identity of its shadowy Blofeld-esque villain, while dragging on without much happening. out. When the action really begins, it falls between the brutal realism and hyper-stylized developments that set it apart from previous films, such as the brutal confrontation with Rasputin (Rhys Ifans). ), who had the role of manipulating the Russian tsar, in this reality, involved a larger and more nefarious conspiracy.
To be fair, the origin story tends to get a bit messy, and this one clearly behaves as if it’s more interested in setting things up, as evidenced by a Marvel-style credits ending scene. . But in transferring the basic pattern of “Kingsman” to this other time frame, Vaughn essentially got Fiennes and his stylish colleagues dressed up with nowhere to go.
“The King’s Man” opens December 22 in US theaters. It is rated R.
