Review: Argylle

There are two critical components to watching Argylle. Go in with an open mind and try to stay away from spoilers. This is not a movie to nitpick, nor is it one you want to know more about before going to the theater.

Elly Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard) is the best-selling author of the famous spy novel Argylle. When developing the plot for her newest manuscript, she’s approached by Aidan Wilde (Sam Rockwell), who tells her that the fictional espionage story mirrors real-world events. Once a recluse afraid to even get on an airplane, Elly is now in for the adventure of a lifetime.

If you’re expecting a film on par with the likes of Kingsman, you may be let down. Argylle is highly stylized, like the spy series, but it’s utterly ridiculous in comparison. But that’s on purpose. Argylle is a romance disguised as a spy flick, making it a perfect date movie. The action scenes are beautifully choreographed, and the story itself is entertaining.

Argylle is a ridiculous movie through and through, with neverending twists. But that’s what makes it fun. Its problem lies with just a tad too many of those twists and scenes that could have been half the duration. While the film had a decent-sized budget, it doesn’t feel like the cash went to the production. Most of the locations looked like they were shot on a green screen, which made the film look rather dull and feel like a movie made for streaming. The budget, it seems, went to the cast. This is a massive ensemble with some big names, some of whom were severely underused, like Ariana DeBose. Some may say Henry Cavill wasn’t used enough, but I think they integrated him into the film cleverly. He’s a fictional character in a spy novel, and while we don’t see many of the spy scenes play out, he is a part of Elly’s consciousness. She constantly sees him in situations, making the scene editing hilarious and enjoyable. When John Cena gets screen time, he’s a scene stealer and has some of the most hilarious lines in the movie.

The editing is stellar. Scenes are weaved together, almost making it feel like there weren’t any cuts. The action scenes were executed perfectly, not missing a beat to each punch with inspired choices for music. The stylized approach and Sam Rockwell’s charisma sell the film. Without him, this would be a complete dud. There is something magical about his screen presence that just invites a viewer in. This, mixed with the explosive chemistry with Howard, makes the romance of it all believable.

Argylle is an absurdly fun, lazy Sunday morning movie. It’s not spectacular, but it is enjoyable. It’s the type of action comedy I missed, with humor reminiscent of the early 2000s. The romance is charming, the action is entertaining, and the story is insane. The script is all over the place, but its silliness makes it fun.