This week, the action thriller Argylle starring Henry Cavill opens in cinemas. However, Matthew Vaughn’s spy movie goes way over the top in one respect
With Argylle, Kingsman director Matthew Vaughn presents his latest spy thriller from February 1, 2024, which is particularly notable for its absurd twists. Unfortunately, the word “stand out” here describes a troublemaker whose antics are unpleasantly conspicuous. You will definitely get whiplash from all the twists and turns after seeing the movie. Anyone who dares to take the wild trip despite the following (spoiler-free) warning can buy a ticket now
Whatever you expect behind Argyle with Henry Cavill: You’re wrong
The introverted author Elly Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard) writes spy stories about the perfect agent Argylle (Henry Cavill) and has built a comfortable life for herself with her cat Alfie. But then the real spy Aiden (Sam Rockwell) enters her life without being asked and claims that her books are clairvoyant and predict specific conspiracies. Because this puts Elly on the radar of a criminal syndicate, the two must now flee and prevent worse things from happening.
(Argylle)
The central question Matthew Vaughn asks in his film is: Who is the real Agent Argylle? Because if Elly’s novels are predictions, there must be a real spy behind the fictional character. At least that’s the logic of the thriller, which sets off on a manhunt with a cat in its backpack.
However, what begins as a writerly reality check along the lines of The Hunt for the Green Diamond or The Lost City takes on ever more grotesque traits in Argylle, finally losing itself completely in ridicule.
Why Argylle overstretches the love of movie twists
Movie twists are a fine thing. Who doesn’t fondly remember their “first time” with Fight Club or The Sixth Sense and the feeling of wanting to watch the movie again right after the big twist? Argylle is not that kind of movie. Instead of “Boa, that’s awesome” twists, Matthew Vaughn’s thriller offers more “Boa, that’s stupid” twists. And plenty of them. When a new colorful surprise is waiting around every corner, you quickly tire of it
(Argylle: Who are Henry Cavill, Dua Lipa and John Cena really?)
Movie twists are like the salt in the soup: used correctly, they can turn a movie meal into a real treat. But with the twist inflation that Argyle serves up, the entertainment soon becomes salty. Especially when the twists come marching in with colored plumes of smoke. At some point, it just seems to be about adding to the absurdity. At the latest, when a character straps knives under his shoes to take out attackers while skating on a pool of oil, that’s the end of the story. (And you haven’t even heard of the data transmission, whose countdown is equipped with a pause button!)
In all fairness, Argylle does have a few good jokes. After Codename U.N.C.L.E., Henry Cavill once again proves to be a veritable James Bond stand-in. And Sam Rockwell is just as convincing as a top agent as he is in a homeless look or as a normal guy. But if the groan-inducing moments outweigh the laughs, perhaps we should admit to ourselves that Henry Cavill’s hairstyle in Argyle is unfortunately not the most ridiculous thing we have to witness here.
The FSK 12 rating does the rest to make Matthew Vaughn’s latest adventure seem like a tame kitten after the violent outbursts of Kick-Ass or Kingsman 2. Like a pet that wants to chum itself up with its peculiar behavior alone. In this way, however, Argylle sacrifices its identity as a movie on the altar of the twist tussle.
In the end, we are left with the sobering question of why we should care about the characters’ espionage escapades and identities if the thriller itself fails to develop a real profile beyond straining its own credibility.
