Matthew Vaughn’s ‘Argylle’: A Shoddy and Derivative Bond Pastiche

Matthew Vaughn, known for his Kingsman films, has released his latest venture, ‘Argylle,’ a James Bond pastiche that has been deemed shoddy and derivative. Starring Dua Lipa, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Sam Rockwell, the film attempts to capture the essence of 007 but falls short of the mark.

Argylle opens with a sequence featuring Agent Argylle, played by Henry Cavill, meeting the seductive LaGrange, portrayed by Dua Lipa, in a glamorous Greek club. The encounter quickly escalates into a machine-gun shoot-out, rooftop car chase, and high-tech surveillance. The plot revolves around a mysterious crime syndicate and a coveted master file that could expose their activities.

Interestingly, it becomes clear that Agent Argylle’s adventures are merely a figment of imagination belonging to a shy author named Elly, played by Bryce Dallas Howard. Elly has written a successful series of spy novels, accompanied by merchandise, but has yet to see them adapted for film or TV. The sequence we witness is the finale she intends for her latest book.

Another twist occurs when Elly is saved from assassins by Aidan, played by Sam Rockwell, who embodies the persona of the secret agent she has created. Aidan, an laidback American with a penchant for leather jackets and jeans, shares Elly’s belief that her books eerily predict real-world criminal activities. To uncover a crucial “master file” capable of dismantling a Spectre-like organization, they must finish Elly’s new book together.

Elly, compelled by the circumstances and the protection Aidan provides, reluctantly joins his mission. Together, accompanied by Elly’s feline companion, they embark on a thrilling journey taking them through London and beyond in their race against time.

However, the film’s downfall lies in its execution. Both the dream-like world of Elly’s spy novels and the real world depicted in the film lack depth, coming across as generic and exaggerated. The visual effects are unconvincing, the plot is far-fetched, and the characters lack believability. The absence of contrast between the two worlds diminishes the impact, rendering the concept ineffective.

Screenwriter Jason Fuchs seemingly draws inspiration from the James Bond franchise, resulting in a screenplay filled with clichés, plot holes, and underdeveloped dialogue. The film’s main villain, depicted by Bryan Cranston, possesses immense power and resources but lacks sufficient backstory or clear motivations. The command center scenes teeter between bustling with employees or eerily barren without explanation. The dialogue ranges from lazy one-liners to incomprehensible catchphrases, failing to make a significant impact.

In defense of ‘Argylle,’ it does bear the distinct trademarks of a Matthew Vaughn film. Acrobatic fights set to upbeat pop songs and references to supermodel Claudia Schiffer, Vaughn’s wife, make appearances. However, the film lacks the adolescent offensiveness often associated with his work. It steers clear of explicit content, leaving it closer to mindless action-romance-comedies that have inundated the market recently.

Alas, ‘Argylle’ not only falls short in terms of quality but also hints at a potentially grim future. Reports indicate that Vaughn has plans for another ‘Argylle’ film and two more installments of the Kingsman franchise. One can only hope that these ventures will steer clear of tired clichés and inject some originality into the spy genre.