Argylle

The $200 million action-comedy Argylle, directed by Matthew Vaughn (Kingsman), centers on Elly Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard), a reclusive spy author who learns that her fictional Agent Argylle (Henry Cavill) appears to be foretelling actual espionage incidents. She embarks on a global journey involving the Division, a clandestine organization headed by Director Ritter (Bryan Cranston), after meeting real spy Aidan (Sam Rockwell) on a train. Cavill's outrageous high-top fade and extravagant action indicate a lighthearted parody of espionage clichés in the film's opening sequence. Early set pieces also showcase Vaughn's distinctive visual style, which is colorful, dynamic, and self-aware. performing the more grounded first half of the picture, Sam Rockwell's portrayal of Aidan, with his typical shabby charm, creates true chemistry with Howard, while Elly's fundamental gimmick of imagining her fictitious hero performing real missions produces some smart moments.

But the reviews have been mostly poor, with several critics describing it as "a $200 million abomination" and "one of the worst movies I've ever seen." The movie's marketing is deceptive—John Cena, Dua Lipa, and Cavill only make brief appearances while being heavily featured on posters—and the plot veers into a tiresome sequence of complicated turns that a movie review website called "merely forgettable." One critic referred to the action sequences as "the dreariest action scene committed to film" because they are so dreary, and the computer-generated imagery, especially surrounding the cat Alfie, appears remarkably cheap for the price. The film overstays its welcome at 139 minutes, straying from its intriguing satirical premise to become the very kind of banal spy thriller it was originally criticizing. The general perception is that Argylle is a prime example of contemporary Hollywood's worst traits, including extravagant budgets, star-studded casts left idle, and a desperate need for franchise setup that fails to produce a compelling stand-alone narrative. However, some defenders thought it was "absurdly funny and silly."

Staff:

Directed by: Matthew Vaughn

Written by: Jason Fuchs

Produced by: Matthew Vaughn, Adam Bohling, David Reid, and Jason Fuchs

Starring: Henry Cavill, Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O'Hara, Dua Lipa, Ariana DeBose, John Cena, and Samuel L. Jackson.

Cinematography: George Richmond

Edited by: Lee Smith, Tom Harrison-Read, and Col Goudie

Music by: Lorne Balfe

Production companies: Apple Studios, Marv Studios, and Cloudy Productions

Distributed by: Universal Pictures and Apple Original Films^a

Release dates: February 2, 2024

Running time: 139 minutes

^a: Distribution was divided between Apple TV+ and Universal Pictures, with Apple handling the SVOD release solely and Universal handling the theatrical and VOD releases.