Even Henry Cavill Failed to Save Argylle. Reviews on Rotten Tomatoes Are Decisive
Henry Cavill starred in a spy show that will hit theaters this week. What are reviewers saying about Argylle ahead of its release?
Henry Cavill's fans would be most eager to see him playing the role of a spy, and not just any spy, but the most famous one - agent 007. Unfortunately, he missed out on that opportunity, which went to Daniel Craig. Now, with news that the producers of the James Bond series are seeking a new, younger actor, it's unlikely that the role will eventually go to the former Superman.
But recently, the British actor was able to prove himself in the role of another spy in the film Argylle, which premiered on February 2. The new movie with Cavill tells the tale of a solitary writer writing spy novels about a secret agent and a global spy syndicate. She soon discovers that the plot of her current book mirrors real-world events in real-time.
What do reviews say about Argyll?
What do critics think about Matthew Vaughn's new film? First reviews, unfortunately, don't paint Argylle in a positive light. Of the 99 reviews currently available on Rotten Tomatoes, only 36% are positive. This is likely not a positive indication for the creators intending to turn Argylle into a full series.
Peter Debruge from Variety pointed out that Argylle is a poorly-written spy comedy whose jokes make you roll your eyes instead of laugh.
The problem is, she's stuck in a badly written spy comedy, no better than the clumsy one we hear her reading from in the opening scene, with its corny one-liners and triple-cross twists.
According to Nicholas Barber from the BBC, the film has too many plot holes.
Everywhere you look, there are details that need to be added, plot holes that need to be filled, and jokes that need to be improved.
Hoai-Tran Bui from Inverse compared Vaughn's film to a nesting doll that has nothing to show behind the numerous plot twists.
It's a nesting doll of a movie - a glib, winking, referential spy comedy that layers twist upon twist on top of each other to hide the fact there's nothing at the center.
Richard Lawson from Vanity Fair suggests that the director has grown weary of the material, a fact that's clearly evident in this film.
What went wrong here? It's probably just plain exhaustion. Argylle marks the fifth film that Vaughn has made in this mode (I'm counting Kick-Ass), and he seems out of tricks.
Ben Travis from Empire Magazine had a slightly more positive opinion about the film. Despite recognizing the movie's faults, he values the charm of the main characters' duo, which makes up for some missteps.
It's that emotional throughline - and the giddiness of its ongoing reveals - that carry Argylle's weaker moments.
Leslie Felperin from The Hollywood Reporter spoke more harshly about Argylle.
It all starts to feel like one of those very expensive, very elaborate commercials for a pseudo-luxury product you don't want to buy - a perfume perhaps, or some car.
Despite the numerous negative opinions, there are a few positive ones that highlight the strengths of Matthew Vaughn's movie. However, after reading most of the reviews, the conclusion emerges that Argylle is, unfortunately, another film that doesn't have much to offer aside from an all-star cast and endless plot twists. Perhaps another spy movie with Henry Cavill will have better luck. Guy Ritchie's film The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is scheduled to be released in cinemas this year, featuring the British actor once again in the role of a secret agent. You can watch the movie trailer here.
Argylle hit theaters on February 2, and the film will be available on Apple TV+ in the future.
