Argylle

Matthew Vaughn's latest foray into the spy comedy genre is Argylle, in which a spy novelist gets involved in the real deal. Bryce Dallas Howard and Sam Rockwell lead in this, as usual for Vaughn, over the top and energetic romp. While a lot of Jason Fuchs's writing doesn't offer anything too new, the plot is rather predictable from the start, and so much relies on obvious coincidences, he still manages to make it entertaining despite that. Being a Vaughn film, the action and fight scenes are of course incredibly inventive, wonderfully unique, and high octane. However, due to its PG-13 rating there's so much of the action that feels rather tame compared to his previous work. Howard and Rockwell not only play well off of each other, but you also get Bryan Cranston and Catherine O'Hara as highly memorable villains as well as Henry Cavill and John Cena who often steal the movie as fictional spies from the books that take part in similar escapades as the leads. However, for such a big budget film, some of the effects do feel a bit jarring, even if it adds to the fun appeal at times. Despite being an incredibly fun movie, Argylle does tend to feel like it's both trying too much and not enough. Over all: 78%

2024 top list so far:

1. The Book of Clarence

2. Argylle

3. Mean Girls 2024