Kingsman: The Secret Service is a fun take on the action spy genre. It recognizes the greats (like Bond, Bourne and U.N.C.L.E) and respects them while stretching its legs across the line with new material and a good dose insanity.

Kingsman is an old British Secret Service with only a few active agents (referred to as Knights). When one is killed in action, the recruitment process starts to find a replacement. So begins the movie (and the recruitment) when “Lancelot” is killed on a rescue mission. Turns out, his mission reveals a population culling plot by technology billionaire Richmond Valentine.

Unbeknownst to Gary “Eggsy” Unwin, his father was a Kingsman, killed when Eggsy was a very young boy. Harry Hart (codename: Galahad) has kept tabs on Eggsy due to his father saving his life. Their paths cross at a crucial time in the now twenty-something year olds life, and Harry thinks Eggsy has what it takes to join the service.

So we have all the check marks for a spy movie. Cool and classy heroes, awesome tech/spy gear, hidden bases, double crosses and a villain with a high death toll plot that has to be stopped.  Mix this all together and you have one of the most enjoyable action movies I’ve seen in awhile.

I found a lot to like in Kingsman. Great characters to start. Colin Firth as Harry does a wonderful job as a suave badass and a great father figure to Eggsy. Eggsy (Taron Egerton) is really likable right from the start and gets better as his character grows on screen. He’s a good kid given a tough hand whose world is blown open when he hears the truth about his dad. Not only are we watching a spy being made, but a gentleman as well (the wardrobe in this movie is legit impressive).

Samuel L Jackson has fun being Valentine and I appreciate the thought behind him and his plot (also like the nods and discussions about spies and their nemesis’). His right hand woman, Gazelle (Sofia Boutella), is completely awesome. She’s got prosthetic legs that she uses as weapons (adding a new level of lethal to Thai kickboxing) and is a joy to watch whenever she is on screen.

Talking about Gazelle brings me to the action. Kingsman is based on the comic book, The Secret Service. by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons. As such, the fights and violence are completely over the top. Crazy fight choreography with all manners of destruction. When someone gets shot or stabbed, you see it. There is a set piece that takes place in a church that is one long take of what can only be described as carnage. It’s a hold on for your dear life kind of presentation that enjoys its mayhem, but wisely curbs the uber violence in favor for a more stylized choice (heads explode in this movie, but it’s not gross).

Director  Matthew Vaughn and his crew have made a love letter to one of cinemas favorite genres. It’s smart, funny, sexy and rated R for good reason. If you’re looking for a wild and goofy time at the movies, I say go for Kingsman (please do, I want to see another one)!