Argylle

By: Jamie Steinberg

Director Matthew Vaughn is back with another action-packed intriguing and quick-witted spy thriller. Packed with stars galore, this movie kicks things off as kind of a joke but soon enough finds its own investable storyline that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats and even hoping for a sequel.

Agent Argylle (Henry Cavill) finds himself on a mission where he is assigned to infiltrate a Greek-set club. While there he has a magical encounter with a beautiful blonde (Dua Lipa) in a glittery gold dress. The two have a sultry dance, but they are interrupted by a bunch of bad guys spraying bullets everywhere. Argylle is able to escape with the help of a tech guru (Ariana DeBose) and a fellow agent (John Cena). No, this isn’t a James Bond movie. However, it seems the story is actually a creation of author Elly Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard) who is working on her fifth novel of the Argylle series.

This is where things with the storyline get tricky. Elly is wracked by writer’s block and decides to take a break from her book to visit her mother (Catherine O’Hara). On the train there Elly encounters Aidan (Sam Rockwell) who is an actual spy. Aidan attempts to extract her from assassins sent by Director Ritter (Bryan Cranston), the head of an undercover agency called “Division,” as he believes she is in possession of a flash drive that contains classified material. Why, you ask? Her novels hit a little too close to several actual missions that have them under the impression that she might be undercover. So, yeah, there is A LOT going on.

Vaughn gives viewers a non-stop thrill ride with Argylle. It’s definitely not your typical spy tale when Elly’s fictional and real world begin to blur lines. Certainly, the ever-handsome Henry Cavill is a drawer but don’t ignore the charm that Sam Rockwell has as his trademark. My only qualm is with the VFX that went into creating kitty Alfie. It’s a bit rough around the edges.

If you’re looking for a thrill ride, then Argylle has you covered. There is plenty of action to keep the viewer intrigued and yet it doesn’t take itself too seriously as a typical spy drama. Snag yourself a seat to see this movie and you’ll find yourself lost in film that delivers action, adventure and so much more.