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In director Matthew Vaughn’s comic-inspired Kingsman movies, a shadowy group of impeccably-dressed men and women works together to keep the world at peace. For the third film in the series, The King’s Man, he takes a step back to show how this secret organization came to be.
The King’s Man travels back in time to explore the origins of the secret society known as the Kingsman agency. Ever since losing his wife to war, the Duke of Oxford (Ralph Fiennes) has been a well-known pacifist, much to the dismay of his son, Conrad (Harris Dickinson), who wants nothing more that to join the military and see the world. But when an old friend comes to him with concerns about Archduke Ferdinand of Austria—and growing tensions throughout the world—the Duke agrees to help, finally allowing Conrad to see the work he’s been doing in secret.
After years of thinking that his dad was quietly living his life in fear, trying to honor his late wife’s dying wish to keep their son out of danger, Conrad is shocked to discover that there’s a secret network of international contacts being run out of their estate—and, of course, this adventure-seeking young man is eager to join in the excitement. Together, the father and son—and their associates—find themselves traveling the globe, becoming a part of history. And those run-ins with historical figures—and the film’s alternate views of history—make the story fun for history buffs.
Still, some of the father-son duo’s adventures—particularly during Conrad’s military service—lack the polish and style and comic book action of earlier installments. But that over-the-top action does show up from time to time—most notably when the agency takes on a wildly flamboyant Rasputin (Rhys Ifans) in a carefully choreographed fight scene. The film follows the characters from one mission to another, the tone and style changing with each new adventure. That certainly keeps things from feeling dull and monotonous, but it also makes it feel haphazard and unfocused—just a series of random missions with a group of people who still haven’t found their agency’s cool, upper-class style.
Traveling from Russia in the time of the czars to the trenches of World War I, The King’s Man definitely takes viewers on an action-packed adventure back in time. But it doesn’t feel cohesive, and it doesn’t necessarily feel like a Kingsman movie, either.
You can find The King’s Man in theaters starting on December 22, 2021.
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