The Stream: Bryce Dallas Howard is miscast, and this flick is way too long with too many random twists and reveals.

The Big Screen: A funny premise with great potential with good cameos.

The Final Bill: A couple of excellent action sequences surround and overlong, convoluted story.

– Trip Fontaine
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Writers: Jason Fuchs
Stars: Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, Henry Cavill, Catherine O’Hara, Bryan Cranston, Ariana DeBose, John Cena
Genre: Action, Thriller, Comedy
Rating: PG-13 for strong violence and action and some strong language
Runtime: 2 hours 10 minutes
Production Companies: Apple Studios, Marv Films, Cloudy Productions
Platform: In theaters February 2, 2024
Notable Trailers: The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, Monkey Man, Kung Fu Panda 4, Drive-Away Dolls

What’s up, Streamers! There is only one major movie release this weekend. It is the action, spy comedy, Argylle. The previews make this movie look like a fun thriller with a stacked cast of familiar faces. Usually, action comedies can be a worthwhile big screen experience as long as the action sequences and the comedy are up to par. Here’s whether Argylle is worth the price of admission.

In Argylle, Bryce Dallas Howard play Elly Conway, a reclusive novelist, who has written a popular series of spy novels whose main character is named Agent Argylle, who is played by Henry Cavill. When Elly suffers a bit of writer’s block while finishing her fifth book in the Argylle series, she decides to travel to her parents’ home for some support. It turns out, as you learn in the trailer, Elly’s novels have been foretelling the future of a devious organization called the Division. While on a train, Elly gets ambushed by operatives from the Division, and she’s saved by Aidan (Sam Rockwell), a real-life spy, who seeks to help her finish her book in order know how to take down the Division. Car chases, explosions, insanely choreographed fight sequences and hijinks ensue.

Argylle has an interesting premise that could have gone in many directions. I don’t think it went in the most interesting direction it could have. Overall, the plot is both predictable and convoluted. There are a lot of twists and reveals throughout the movie that seem overly complicated and random, at times. I won’t say that it gets confusing, but all of these extra pieces feel unnecessary. What’s worse is that the movie is over 2 hours long and it feels like it goes on and on and on… I’d definitely say there are at least 30 minutes of movie that could have been edited out. Scenes drag. Action sequences go on for far too long. The energy of the movie completely grinds to a halt. It gets exhausting and annoying near the end when you will just want it to end!

There are some good actions sequences especially a crazy car chase and a couple good fight scenes; but there are also some insanely stupid action set pieces that are weird and not even necessarily funny. I wish this movie were actually funnier. It seems to me that Bryce Dallas Howard was not the right actress for this role. She has her charming moments as Elly, but she doesn’t have good chemistry with Sam Rockwell and she’s completely unbelievable near the end.  Sam Rockwell is good and brings his manic comedic energy; however, so many actors here have nothing to do and are just wasted standing around. That’s very disappointing.

Ultimately, Argylle is a mixed bag of an action comedy. There is a lot of potential in the story, but the movie could have used a good edit. It is way too long. There are too many random twists and reveals that just prolong the action. This flick could be a decent stream, but it’s a pretty annoying sit in the theater.  Just a handful a popcorn for Argylle.