The King's Man (2021) Movie Review

Matthew Vaughn's "The King's Man" is an action movie that struggles to find a consistent tone. On the one hand, it attempts to be a serious examination of politics, warfare, and pacifism, but on the other, it's a goofy action franchise. The result is an odd hybrid of a war drama and a patriotic action extravaganza that never quite finds its groove.

The film is a prequel to the first two films in the series, and it centers on Orlando Oxford (Ralph Fiennes), the man who would go on to found the covert operation that was the focus of those movies. The Duke of Oxford is an important ally of King George (Tom Hollander), and he starts his own spy network with the help of Shola (Djimon Hounsou) and Polly (Gemma Arterton), two servants who are also geniuses and able to hide in plain sight.

Meanwhile, a villain who remains unseen for most of the movie is scheming to plunge the world into chaos with the help of his own network of spies, including Rasputin (Rhys Ifans) himself. As the war becomes bloodier, Oxford struggles to keep his son Conrad (Harris Dickinson) from the front line, preaching pacifism and protection whenever possible. However, the movie seems to push back against this idea until it almost suggests that the horrors of war will turn even the most upstanding gentlemen into killing machines.

One of the film's biggest strengths is its charismatic cast, especially Fiennes, who gives it his all even when the film doesn't quite know what to do with him. The same can be said of Hounsou and Arterton, who are both excellent in their roles but are not given enough to do. The film's action choreography is occasionally entertaining, and some of the fight scenes are well done.

Overall, "The King's Man" is a movie that only works when it remembers its insane predecessors. The film's strengths lie in its action choreography and charismatic cast, but it's let down by its inconsistent tone and inability to decide whether it wants to be a serious war drama or a goofy action franchise. Fans of the series may enjoy it, but it's unlikely to win over any new fans.

"The King's Man" is a tonal mess of a movie that struggles to find its footing. On the one hand, it's a serious examination of politics, warfare, and pacifism, but on the other, it's a goofy action franchise. The result is an odd hybrid of a war drama and a patriotic action extravaganza that never quite finds its groove.

The film is a prequel to the first two movies in the series, and it centers on Orlando Oxford (Ralph Fiennes), the man who would go on to found the covert operation that was the focus of those movies. Oxford is an important ally of King George (Tom Hollander), and he starts his own spy network with the help of Shola (Djimon Hounsou) and Polly (Gemma Arterton), two servants who are also geniuses and able to hide in plain sight.

In conclusion, "The King's Man" is a tonal mess that struggles to find its footing as either a serious war drama or a goofy action franchise. Matthew Vaughn and co-writer Karl Gajdusek attempt to infuse the film with serious discussions on colonialism, pacifism, and the human cost of war, but the film's inconsistent tone and constant shifts between serious drama and action-packed silliness make it difficult to take these themes seriously. While the charismatic cast and occasionally entertaining action choreography keep the film from becoming completely tedious, it ultimately fails to find its groove.