The King’s Man movie review: The Tale of Two Films

We have seen so many movies delayed, rescheduled over the last two years, and finally, after many delays, The King’s Man is hitting theaters. So is the film worthy of a watch? I share my thoughts below.

My expectations were relatively low for this one as I was not a big fan of the original and thought the sequel would be even worse. However, a prequel to highlight how they got to become “The King’s Man” did have some intrigue for me.

As the film begins, we get a little back story on how Orland Oxford (Ralph Fiennes) became the person he was and how the dynamic between him and his son Conrad (Harris Dickinson) was built. And this highlights the title of this piece in saying it is a tale of two films. The first hour of this movie was so ridiculously long that I thought I would fall asleep. It was rough around the edges and there is one fight scene that was one of the worst and most outlandish (not in a good way) fight scenes in the history of filmmaking.

The King’s Man recovers in the second act

However, one moment in the middle of the second act turns this film entirely around. I won’t divulge into any spoilers, but there is one SHOCKING moment that happens that you don’t see coming and I am still reeling from it.

The second half of this film is a blast. Regardless of how I feel about this franchise, Matthew Vaughn knows how to direct action sequences that put you smack dab in the middle of the battle. So, when we get to the final stages of the movie, the entire choreographed battle is phenomenal. While some of it might have been way over the top, I still loved every minute of it.

Overall, The King’s Man is easily my favorite of the trilogy, even within that super flawed first act. Those who love the franchise will be in for a real treat.

The King’s Man is in theaters on Dec. 22, 2021.