Contrary to Hollywood’s preconceptions and stereotypes, you don’t need to be an Eton graduate to be a gentleman spy. That’s the stance that Matthew Vaughan’s 2014 spy-adventure takes as we follow “Eggsy” – a young man from a council estate who would have been certain to end with a life behind bars were it not for a chance encounter with a spruce secret agent code-named Gallahad. Taron Eggerton stars as Eggsy and Colin Firth becomes his sharply-dressed mentor, Harry/ Galahad. The film boasts a strong supporting cast as well featuring strong performances from Mark Strong, Michael Caine and the film’s antagonist Samuel L. Jackson.
Gary “Eggsy” Unwin is stuck in a rut, living with his single-mother in a council flat and often mixing with the wrong crowds, seemingly destined for a life balanced between crime and jail sentences. That is until chance encounter with a mysterious well-spoken stranger who opens his eyes to a secret world of gentleman spies and covert operations. Now under the wing of his new mentor, Harry, “Eggsy” finds himself competing with a group of would-be secret agents in a survival-of-the-fittest style selection process for his chance at joining the secretive spy organisation; The Kingsman.
Kingsman: The Secret Service – Saturday 9:00pm on Channel 4.
