Classy British spies, international intrigue, cool gadgets, the fate of the world in the hands of a maniac… on the surface, KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE would appear to be another in a long line of James Bond imitators. But only someone who hasn't yet experienced it would make that mistake. The Matthew Vaughn-directed action-comedy is a crazy, violent and hilarious concoction that would cause Her Majesty to avert her eyes in a hurry, and it's sure to become a cult classic the moment it saunters into theaters this Friday.
That one of cinema's most proper gentlemen, Colin Firth, should star in something so decidedly improper is absolute perfection. The Oscar-winner plays Harry Hart, a member of an elite and secretive organization called The Kingsmen who're on the lookout for the next generation of super spies. Relative newcomers Taron Egerton and Sophie Cookson play two of the new recruits, with Egerton's character – "Eggsy" Unwin – of particular note thanks to the fact his father was once a Kingsman himself.
I had the splendid opportunity to speak with Firth, Egerton and Cookson at the film's junket back in December (best junket ever: they were serving Guinness the whole time), and below you'll see us talk bringing the graphic novel to the big screen, the arduous training Firth went though and the getting to be a big kid again.