Director Matthew Vaughn’s “Kingsman: The Secret Service” combines the cunning of a spy film and the humorous brutality of his previous work, “Kick-Ass,” in an amicable way.
The comic book series turned film focuses on Gary “Eggsy” Irwin, played by newcomer Taron Egerton, who discovers his deceased father was almost part of an intelligence agency known as the Kingsmen.
Oscar winner Colin Firth plays Galahad, a veteran agent who guides Eggsy through Kingsmen tryouts.
“Kingsman” includes a handful of well-established actors. The agency’s leader, Arthur, is played by Michael Caine. Mark Strong finally gets a break from playing the antagonist with his role as Merlin, another veteran agent.
While the trainees are picked off one by one with each action-packed task they are challenged to do, billionaire villain Richmond Valentine played by  Samuel L. Jackson, is developing a way to wipe out a majority of the human population.
Valentine sets his plan in motion and retreats to a base with the world’s elite including celebrities, world leaders and an Obama lookalike.
Eggsy and the Kingsmen do everything to stop Valentine but not before having to get through hundreds of henchmen and Valentine’s bionic-legged henchwoman, Gazelle, played by Olympic gymnast Sofia Boutella.
Vaughn directs a genuinely entertaining two hours of action and comedy. The comical, yet intense action sequences make up for the sometimes off-beat English humor.
One of the most memorable moments in the film is the church scene, when Valentine puts his killing agent to the test in a Kansas hate church. This results in a graphically violent, yet hilarious scene that had audience members laughing in shock.
After witnessing a person get cut in half and several murders, the last thing the audience wanted to see were exploding heads. Instead, exploding heads turned into a glorious firework display, accompanied by classical music.

Vaughn’s creative, comic-book-like touches make action scenes more enjoyable and humorous. The acting in this film is commendable. Mediocre acting can generally be expected from comedies, but “Kingsman” is different.
Egerton had no trouble delving into a role alongside a cast of blockbuster stars. The newby actor brought charisma, edge and energy to the screen.
This was a new type of role for Colin Firth, who is known for his dramas and romantic comedies. He combined his dapper persona with that of James Bond successfully.
To my surprise, Jackson was perfect for the role of Valentine. A queasy, murderous villain with a lisp was unexpected, but amusing.
Screenwriters evoked giggles from the audience with each S Valentine tried to pronounce.
“Kingsman” is a mixture of elements that prove to be different from any other action film to date.
Vaughn managed to put a distinct stamp on this movie that audiences and critics received well. If the movie continues to perform well, this team may be sitting on a huge “Kingsman” franchise.