‘Argylle’ Gives Us the First Blockbuster of the Year

Elly Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard; Jurassic World franchise) is the best-selling author of the espionage novel series Argylle. Outside of the exciting world, she’s built within her books, Elly leads a pretty uneventful life. Her nightly routine consists of a silent evening at home with her computer and adorable cat, Alfie.

She finishes her fifth book, but after a call to her mother, she realizes that she needs to rethink the ending. To gather some inspiration, she books a train ticket to visit her mother, hoping that family time will shake loose the perfect ending. On the train, a stranger sits across from Elly, pulls out a copy of her book, and begins to read it. Elly thinks he’s just a crazed fan but finds out he’s a real spy named Aiden (Sam Rockwell; See How They Run) who needs Elly’s help to bring down a real-life spy organization. 

Matthew Vaughn is behind some of our generation’s favorite franchises, including Kingsman and Kick-Ass. With that in mind, one can assume what he’d have in store for Argylle. Yet, even with those preconceived notions, there’s no way to prepare for the film’s full-throttle fun.  

We open with Agent Argylle (Henry Cavill; The Witcher) in the middle of a mission. He greets the lovely Lagrange (Dua Lipa; Barbie), and after a dance, he realizes his cover is blown and relies on his team to help him shake the scene. A high-octane action sequence follows, and we flash over to Elly and realize this is a scene from her latest book. From the start, the film gives us a rush of flavor, but it isn’t certain that the adrenaline will endure. 

Wonder Woman’s Jason Fuchs penned the satirical comedy spy thriller. There are moments where the dialogue seems lengthy, and the characters begin to feel like chunks of text, telling and not showing. Again, the film switches gears before you can be totally over it. 

Argylle knows what it is. If you think the stunts in Fast X were wild, you’ll see some of them outdone in this film. But that’s the point. The film is in on the joke, so it’s only fitting that the action pushes realistic boundaries around every corner. 

Courtesy of Universal Pictures / Apple Original Films

Another plus of the film is its ensemble cast. Howard and Rockwell’s lead accompanied by Cavill, Lipa, John Cena (Vacation Friends), Ariana DeBose (I.S.S.), Bryan Cranston (Your Honor), Catherine O’Hara (Schitt’s Creek), Samuel L. Jackson (Secret Invasion) and Sofia Boutella (Rebel Moon: Part One — A Child of Fire). Their time on screen isn’t exactly balanced, but the film does well enough to give them their own time to shine. Unfortunately, some audiences might be sad about Cavill’s limited screen time, especially since his involvement was a lot of the selling point in the film’s marketing campaign. 

Yes, there’s a lot of fun to be had in this movie, but there are a few hiccups. The runtime can feel excessive, and the CGI might give the audience flashbacks to DC’s The Flash. The film is satirical, but I doubt the production intended for the CGI to look that bad. But, if they did, they surpassed expectations.

The pacing of the film can seem a little too inconsistent. There are times when the ebbs are greater than the flows, but the action sequences make up for any time you felt sluggish within the lengthy runtime. 

It’s refreshing to see a film in this genre featuring a woman with a curvy figure. While Howard isn’t the first to do so, it would be ideal if casting women who aren’t size 2 becomes commonplace, making it a non-issue rather than a focal point.

The movie keeps you on your toes. Even if you think something is coming, the way it comes isn’t expected. Then, right when something is revealed, the story’s path detours towards an entirely new destination. In a day when it’s hard to pull the wool over the viewer’s eyes, Argylle manages to do so a few times. And, if nothing else, you’ll stay vigilant until the moment the real Agent Argylle is revealed. 

Argylle is a surprise smash and gives audiences their first blockbuster of the year. The cast is fantastic, the stunt coordination in the action sequences is exhilarating, and you can’t help but feel good when the credits finally roll. Think Kingsman meets Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery — and yes, I’m serious. If you’re looking for a theater experience worth the price of a movie ticket, then head out to see Argylle. Oh, and don’t forget to stick around for the post-credit scene.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars