Argylle Review (Apple Tv+) Spy world torn with fresh trends, accompanied by adorable meows!

Argylle , Apple Studios’ blockbuster spy film directed by Matthew Vaughn, tells the unique and unprecedented tale of a bestselling female novelist whose fictional spy world becomes a reality, leading her to be pursued by real-life secret agents and nefarious organizations.

Argylle Review (No Spoilers)

 synopsis

Elly Conway, a tormented romance writer and the creator of a bestselling spy novel series, finds happiness in quiet nights at home with her computer and Alphy, her cat. However, when the events in Elly’s novels, chronicling the adventures of the spy named Argylle and his mission to bring down a global spy network, start mirroring the real clandestine movements of a true secret organization, she is thrust into action. Carrying Alphy in a cat backpack, she joins forces with Aidan (Sam Rockwell), a bumbling spy with a cat allergy, embarking on a escape from pursuit. As the line between Ellie’s fictional spy world and her real-life unravels, the journey unfolds.

The spy film, directed by Matthew Vaughn, known for his work on “Kick-Ass” and “Kingsman,” is characterized by its action-packed sequences, dynamic cinematography, and vibrant storytelling. Vaughn’s directorial style sets his films apart, creating a unique and visually striking world. This particular movie, even more so than “Kingsman,” revolves around the captivating story of Elly (played by Bryce Dallas Howard), a talented romance writer. Elly’s unique ability turns her fictional spy narratives into reality, adding a layer of fantasy to the spy genre. This film promises a fanatical and unconventional spy experience, introducing a narrative where the line between fiction and reality becomes blurred. As the story unfolds, it poses intriguing questions that immediately captivate the audience, leaving them eager to discover how the plot will unfold.

The film delves into the theme of prophecy through Elly’s writing, where she encounters “Aiden,” a real-life spy who comes to her aid when the villainous organization from her novels starts hunting her down. Elly finds herself experiencing an overlap between her imaginative characters and Eden in the real world, even seeing these characters within herself. This blurring of reality and imagination mirrors the struggle of novelists who struggle to separate fiction from reality. Viewers, too, are left questioning whether what they’re witnessing is real or not. As Ellie embarks on her adventure to escape pursuit, new questions arise, keeping the audience engaged until answers slowly unravel, clarifying the mysteries posed. The story’s abrupt twists, designed to shock viewers, add to its intrigue.

The film blends romantic comedy with a character who is both colorful and serious. As the heroine starts to feel a connection with Aiden, who is actually a plain-looking and quirky real-life spy, unlike the handsome heroes in spy films or the character Argylle played by Henry Cavill in the novels, she faces a dilemma. This is the only aspect of her writing that doesn’t align with reality, but it holds answers as to why. The movie plays with situations where quirky heroics, like teaching her to knock out bad guys or leaping off buildings together by tossing her cat, make her wonder whether to trust this man each time. It’s a comically suspenseful scene, full of twists and turns, adhering to the adage that the better the spy, the bigger the lies. The story is riddled with layers of deception, forcing quick decisions even from the villain, who may not be what they seem!

With a clear focus on cats in the film, the director revealed that the idea originated from his daughter showing him a Taylor Swift video where she carried a cat in a backpack. Intrigued by this, the director decided to integrate the concept of selling cats into the movie and added tension to the story involving cats. The film cleverly targets cat lovers, incorporating humorous cat moments and playfully teasing cat owners with heartwarming scenes (rest assured, the cats don’t come to any harm, but there are emotionally touching scenes). For those who adore cats, their colorful presence is undeniably a crucial and enjoyable aspect of the film.

However, despite the abundance of A-list stars such as John Cena, Samuel L. Jackson, Ariana DeBose and Sofia Boutella , their roles in the film are relatively minor (even fewer than the cats) and do not play central characters in the adventure. Although their characters may possess notable abilities, their roles are not utilized enough to make them resemble true spy movie protagonists. Instead, the lead character takes on almost every task, turning into a self-sufficient hero. The director has indicated that this film marks the beginning of a new spy world, suggesting that these characters might have more significant roles in future installments.

 

With “Argylle” being produced by Apple Studios, known for its high-budget streaming productions, and considering the serious tone of their previous projects like “Killers of the Flower Moon ” and “Napoleon ,” both with budgets of around $200 million, “Argylle” receiving a similar budget is quite significant. Especially notable is the work of director Matthew Vaughn, who has consistently delivered outstanding results within limited budgets (for instance, “Kingsman” had a budget of $90-100 million). The action scenes in “Argylle” are packed right from the start, with a thrilling car chase scene through the city to catch the villain, even though it heavily utilizes CGI. These action scenes maintain Vaughn’s signature style of creativity, coolness, beauty, humor, and excitement, enhanced by the quirky, eccentric action sequences inserted into the film. For instance, there’s a scene where characters dance and shoot amid multicolored smoke bombs amidst explosions, reminiscent of Bollywood dance sequences, but with a Hollywood twist.

 

In summary, this film by director Matthew Vaughn successfully delivers a return to form, providing viewers with over 2 hours of full enjoyment. It is rich with stylishly curated action scenes that align with the director’s signature style. The spy world presented in the movie takes a refreshing and unconventional approach, featuring characters who are more ordinary than the traditionally handsome and beautiful spies. The film seamlessly blends elements of romantic comedy and biting humor into the spy genre. It comes with the central theme that the more skilled a spy is, the better they can smoothly lie, which adds complexity to the story. The film cleverly breaks the mold several times, always with reasonable explanations. Additionally, the movie heavily incorporates the selling point of cats, bringing a playful and irresistible charm to the film. The scenes with the cat character contribute to the comedic and quirky identity that cannot be ignored. This film is a colorful and captivating story, particularly appealing to cat lovers.

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