Initial Reactions from Critics to Matthew Vaughn's 'Argylle'

Director Matthew Vaughn returns with a new film, 'Argylle,' after a three-year hiatus.

The protagonist of 'Argylle,' 'Ellie' (played by Bryce Dallas Howard), is a bestselling novelist. She is also the author of the spy novel 'Argylle,' which is also the title of the film. One day, real-world spy agents come looking for her. They inform her that the story in the novel 'Argylle' is unfolding in reality. Ellie must work with these agents to complete the ending of 'Argylle.'

Matthew Vaughn's films have been praised as 'A-list films in B-list clothing.' This is because, while his films are full of quirky and energetic writing and direction, they also possess A-list quality and mass appeal. Released in 2015, 'Kingsman: The Secret Service' generated over $400 million in revenue on an $80 million production budget, achieving remarkable success.

In truth, Matthew Vaughn's directorial career has seen a decline since 'Kingsman' in 2015. While 'Kingsman: The Golden Circle' (2017) performed similarly to its predecessor at the box office, it had a larger budget and received negative reviews from both critics and audiences. The 'Kingsman' prequel also failed to capture the series' unique strengths, leading to critical backlash. Where his films were once considered 'B-list films pretending to be A-list,' they now faced criticism for truly being B-list films.

Critics who have seen 'Argylle,' which is set to premiere during the first week of February, say that it still showcases the director's signature strengths. They say that the film features fresh and quirky action sequences towards the end, and a suitable amount of comedy that injects energy into the film.

Interestingly, this film utilizes a story-within-a-story format. Ellie experiences adventures in the real world, and as she writes 'Argylle,' the story unfolds within the novel 'Argylle' as well. The world of the novel is said to be a more exaggerated and eccentric display of Matthew Vaughn's signature style.

The actors' performances have also received positive feedback from critics. Henry Cavill takes on the role of 'Argylle,' the protagonist of the novel. True to his portrayal of Superman in the past, he delivers a strong performance and action scenes in this film. Bryce Dallas Howard also delivers a flawless performance, and her chemistry with her cat is particularly well-received.

However, some have pointed out that the film's mid-section is somewhat slow, and that since it is not rated R like his previous works, some may find the action a bit childish.

Matthew Vaughn's 'Argylle' will be released in theaters on February 2nd in the US and February 7th in Korea.