The 558th film I have seen in theaters…

An enjoyable screwball spy comedy

Elly is a spy novelist, creator of the hottest character in espionage fiction: Argylle. On a train ride home to visit her parents, she gets embroiled in a REAL LIFE shootout! Discovering that evil spies are after her, as her novels are a little too close to reality, she allies with a good (?) spy, trying to solve the mystery of why her stories are so prophetic.

This is not Matthew Vaughn’s best work, but I thought it was okay. It is not a serious movie, it is fluff. Sometimes fluff is needed. As a fan of spy movies, I enjoyed this for what it was: a fluffy interpretation of that genre. Bryce Dallas Howard is a fine actress, perhaps a better director, but she was good here. Sam Rockwell, seemingly incapable of a bad performance, steals the show as Aiden, the spy who is helping Elly. The supporting cast includes a series of also-rans named Henry Cavill, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O’Hara, John Cena, and Samuel L Jackson. I know. Lightweights.

Is this going to set the box office on fire? No. It is going to win awards or critical acclaim? Also no. Did I have a good time? Yeah. It was a fun couple hours at the movies, and this is why I go.

5/10