The King’s Man was aired on December 22, last year, as a prequel to Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015) and Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017).
The King’s Man follows the pacifist Duke of Oxford and his failed attempt to protect his son; his endeavors towards putting an end to WWI and the organization behind it.
And the eventual birth of the Kingsman, an elite secret service.
The King’s Man (2021) Plot
In 1902, British aristocrat Orlando, Duke of Oxford, his wife Emily, and their young son Conrad visit a concentration camp in South Africa during the Second Boer War while working for the Red Cross.
Emily is killed during a Boer sniper attack on the camp, causing pacifistic Orlando to determine that the world needs someone to head off such conflicts before they occur.
Twelve years later, Orlando has recruited two of his servants, Shola and Polly, into his spy network dedicated to protecting the United Kingdom and the British Empire from the approaching Great War.
At Kitchener’s request, Conrad and Orlando ride with Orlando’s friend Archduke Franz Ferdinand through Sarajevo, and Conrad saves the Archduke from a bomb thrown by Gavrilo Princip, a rebel intent on sparking a war.
Later, however, Princip happens to run into the Archduke’s entourage again, this time succeeding in fatally shooting the Archduke and his wife Sophie.
Orlando’s group, relying on information from other dignitaries’ socially invisible servants, learns that Princip was part of a plot to pit the German, Russian, and British empires against each other.
The group, headed by the mysterious Shepherd from a secret mountain-top headquarters, has their network of agents, including the Russian mystic Grigori Rasputin, a trusted adviser to Tsar Nicholas of Russia.
What follows are attempts to prolong and intensify the war, counter attempts, personal victories, and losses on both sides. Watch to find out more. (Cr: Wikipedia)
The King’s Man (2021): Critics Reviews
John Serba (Decider)
“The King’s Man sets up the story of the British patriotic spy ring using a high-end clothier as its front — but instead of dapper pinstripes, this one’s dressed in a clown suit.”
Jake Wilson (The New Age, Australia)
“Tonally and thematically The King’s Man is all over the place, in a way that lays bare the cynicism of Vaughn’s mission: to appear transgressive yet reassuringly conventional.”
Gary M. Kramer (Salon.com)
“A dumb bit of fun, a revisionist history of WWI told in a nimble, comic-book style…. Rasputin (Rhys Ifans) is deliciously over-the-top, albeit in a pretty spectacular way.”
Brian Tallerico (RogerEbert.com)
“A charismatic cast and occasionally entertaining piece of action choreography keep it from complete tedium, but this odd hybrid of war drama and patriotic action orgy never finds its groove.”
Jen Chaney (New York Magazine/Vulture)
“A dreary knock-off in period costume that doubles as an embarrassing work of wish fulfillment for anyone who just wishes Bond could be more overtly royalist.”
Frank Scheck (Hollywood Reporter)
“The results may turn some Kingsman fans off, but those willing to embrace this entry’s greater thematic and stylistic ambitions will find much to savor, including the stirring lead performance by Ralph Fiennes.”
The King’s Man (2021): Audience Reviews
Ryan H: “This is, in my opinion, quite possibly the worst film I have ever seen. It is loathsome and vile, decadent and deplorable, shallow and without shame.
This film makes me question my faith in society, the future of our species and the existence of an omnibenevolent god.
I can only be grateful that a generation of Europeans – civilians and soldiers alike – went to their graves without seeing or knowing of this movie.”
Andred D: “A quality action film with great acting. Sure it’s unoriginal at points but original films are either not made anymore or impossible to find. Overall very enjoyable.”
Valerie T: “Brilliant writing. Noble heroics, comedy, interesting fight scenes, surprising (and sad) plot twists, and this one was chock full of nods to historical events too.”
Caleb O: “I have never reviewed a movie before. The only reason I am is to warn anyone else never to watch this “movie” [The King’s Man].This is easily the worst “movie” I have ever seen.”
Producers should take a cue from installments like The Texas Massacre and every movie franchise’s sequel or prequel. If the follow-up movie doesn’t exceed the bar set by the previous or original franchise, it shouldn’t see the light of the day. Haven’t we preached this enough?
Site Ratings
IMDB: 6.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 43%
Google Reviews: 83% of Google users liked the movie.
Facebook Rating: 3.1/5