Warning: This article contains spoilers for the 2024 film Argyle.
Director Matthew Vaughn has established himself as a reliable source for stylish, retro, extreme action films with films like X-Men: First Class, Kick-Ass, and the Kingsman series.
Fans are hoping Bourne will break away from the formula while still providing the necessary thrills. Reactions to his recent foray into the “spy-fi” genre have been mixed, suggesting he may have strayed too far.
Anyone hoping that Argyle would be the film that gave Henry Cavill his due will be disappointed.
“Argyle” is the story of acclaimed spy novelist Ellie Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard). Fresh off the publication of her latest book, Argyle, Conway is struggling to find a story for her next book. When Ellie is tracked down by a shady real-world spy group called the Division, who realize that her criminal plans are perfectly predicted in her book, her writer’s block becomes a mystery to her troubles. Become a seed. Her rescuer is Aiden Wilde (Sam Rockwell), a resourceful CIA spy tasked with protecting her.
As per the marketing rumors, Rockwell and Howard have good chemistry. But Argyle, with its shockingly short running time starring Henry Cavill as the title character, changes us in an instant.
Hollywood has often struggled with how to use Cavill (see his recent unceremonious exit as Superman), but his work in Mission: Impossible, Enola Holmes, and several Guy Ritchie films His brilliant acting has made him a fan favorite. Anyone who was hoping that Argyle would be the movie that finally gave this talented actor the recognition he deserved will be disappointed.
That said, the action sequences are quite entertaining, set to either fist-pumping nostalgic jams or sultry love ballads, including the original song “Electric Energy,” with varying degrees of cringeiness and coolness. There is a difference.
Where “Argyle” stumbles is its twist. There are too many twists. A crucial fact about the film is that Ellie Conway, under her real name Rachel Kyle (R. Kyle), portrays Argyle’s adventures based on repressed memories of her own spy career. It means that there is. Her writer’s block stems from the fact that her latest “story” is unfolding in real time.
This twist alone makes for an engaging story, but its impact is bogged down by several more “gotcha” moments that feel like jokes with little connection to the plot. The result is an adrenaline rush of action and spectacle, often cartoon-like.
Still, it’s better to try a little too hard than to play it safe, as always, and “Argylle”, despite its flaws, is a lot of fun. The pressures of making a blockbuster film often override the qualities that make a director unique. For better or worse, Matthew Vaughan has always stuck to his signature style, and it’s on full display in Argyle.
