With more twists than three spy novels combined, Argylle is a wild ride but has its fair share of bumps on the road.
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Mild spoilers for Argylle ahead.
What do you do when you realize that your hit series of spy novels predicts real-world events? That’s the conundrum reclusive author Elly Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard) finds herself in. When the plots of Elly’s fictional books – which center on secret agent Argylle (Henry Cavill) and his mission to unravel a global spy syndicate – begin to mirror the covert actions of a real-life spy organization, quiet evenings at home become a thing of the past. Accompanied by Aidan (Sam Rockwell), a cat-allergic spy, Elly races across the world to stay one step ahead of the killers as the line between Elly’s fictional world and her real one begins to blur.
This is the premise of Matthew Vaughn’s latest spy movie that trades subtlety for a plot that goes places. But in its goal of one-upping each scene with another bombastic action sequence or reveal, the movie stumbles with telling a refined espionage story. 2024’s first big spy movie is a mixed bag.
TWISTS, TWISTS, AND EVEN MORE TWISTS
Photo from Universal Pictures
If you thought spy movies couldn’t have any more twists, Argylle said “Hold my beer.” This movie has more twists than a pretzel as we are treated to a new revelation every 20 minutes that tops the past one. What can be considered one good plot twist to serve an entire movie is just part one of Argylle’s narrative. As such, the movie rarely stays one note as new bombshells are thrown at you. It’s an edge-of-your-seat experience, to say the least, with how the film doesn’t rest on its laurels. Even if you think you know what happens next, you will not see it coming.
INVENTIVE ACTION
Photo from Universal Pictures
Matthew Vaughn has made a name for himself as one of the most exciting directors to watch for in the action genre space. And with Argylle, he does it again with inventive and exhilarating action scenes that are already in the running to be some of the best of 2024. If you came for the action, you’ll be pleased with how the movie doesn’t drop the ball whenever the guns start firing and the fists start flying. In particular, two scenes in its final act deliver crowd-pleasing action you will be thinking about after the movie is done.
The first is a “Murder Ballet Sequence” that blends romantic dance movements with tactical combat, seamlessly choreographed in sync with music, and hearts made out of smoke from smoke bombs for good measure. The second is an oil skating sequence (yes, you read that ride) that involves a pair of combat boots, knives, crude oil, and a lot of bodies. We won’t spoil what happens here, but let’s just say it’s still living in our minds rent-free. However, the CGI used in some of these scenes could have been better implemented and less shoddy.
A FUN LEAD PAIR
Photo from Universal Pictures
If you didn’t pay much attention to the marketing campaign of Argylle, you probably thought that Henry Cavill and Dua Lipa were the lead stars. And while they do get their time to shine, it’s Bryce Dallas Howard’s Elly and Sam Rockwell’s Aiden who lead the way. As a cat-loving novelist and rough-around-the-edges agent, Elly and Aiden may seem like an unlikely pair, and they are. But Dallas Howard and Rockwell make it work with their surprisingly strong chemistry.
They balance each other out and make for a fun duo to follow for the movie’s more than two-hour runtime. The two go to some pretty wild places, but no matter how crazy things get, you can expect Elly and Aiden to be the film’s heart and soul.
TONALLY ALL OVER THE PLACE
Photo from Universal Pictures
Argylle does so much with its story that it can make some spy movies look like playtime. But because of that, it can feel like widely different movies at times. Each plot point brings the movie in new directions, making for some imbalanced narrative shifts. How the film starts is a complete 540 from how it ends. While Argylle is a spy movie at its center, it seems that it doesn’t know what exact kind of spy movie it wants to be. At one point, you’re watching an odd-couple spy movie, the next, it veers into political thriller territory. Unique? Yes. But cohesive? Not so much. Argylle could have benefited from an edit or two.
A LOT OF HALF-BAKED IDEAS
Photo from Universal Pictures
The movie has a lot of good ideas. But because of how frenetic it can get, Argylle tends to move from one plot point to another without giving a proper resolution. Because of the number of plot twists it has, Argylle tends to veer into the unserious and silly territory with a lack of focus and depth that leaves some plot points lacking the impact they’re supposed to have. Moments that should leave your jaw on the floor are paved over by another story beat, as if the movie is just interested in getting on with the next moment.
Overall, Argylle is fun and funny but has a plot that’s acting as if it’s running late for its next appointment. There’s a sense that Argylle looked to be a parody of sorts of the spy genre, but it doesn’t really get there. Thrilling action scenes and an all-star cast can only do so much to cover the cracks in the wall. But if spy movie absurdity is what you want, that’s what you get in Argylle.
Argylle is now showing in cinemas nationwide.
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