THE KINGSMAN with Colin Firth Not Worth a Crown-Thumbs Down

THE KINGSMAN is mire pax of James Bond genres, stirred (not shaken) with STAR WARS, AUSTIN POWERS, BATMAN, BOURNE IDENTITY & King Arthur with dreadful results.  The film needs magic to make it watchable.  There are some exceptional ingredients in this potpourri: Colin Firth, Michael Caine. and an appealing young Brit, Teron Egerton.  Still this potpourri reeked.  To be fair, the first 45 minutes was very entertaining.  Harry Hart (Firth) is a British undercover agent that could outdo James Bond.  Eggsy (Egerton) is a bright, underachiever from a rough neighborhood who finds himself in trouble with the law after an original & hilarious car chase.  Eggsy uses his 1 call to the number Harry had given him on a medal 17 years earlier.  Eggsy father was a secret agent who saved Harry's life in a heroic sacrifice.  Hart convinces Eggsy to apply for a position as an agent by handedly beating the pub bullies to a pulp with the aid of his hi-tech umbrella.  The training/competition for the coveted elite spot with the British agents "The Kingsman" is also appealing.  Eggsy does not have the upper crust breeding of the others but his fast thinking & courageous unconventional actions earn him the job (along with hi-tech perks.)  The movie takes a nosedive after Hart, is killed by the villainous Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson with a silly lisp.)  The evil plot to "save the world" destroys the movie.  Don't get shagged.  "This sort of thing ain't my bag, baby." (A. Powers)