Argylle, the latest spy action comedy by Kingsman: The Secret Service director Matthew Vaughn, isn’t getting great feedback from critics, with many deeming it too silly, overly long, and convoluted in its plot.
The movie has an incredible cast – Henry Cavill, Bryce Dallas Howard, Samuel L. Jackson, John Cena, Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, Ariana DeBose, Catherine O’Hara, Sofia Boutella, and Dua Lipa are among its stars – but that isn’t saving it from a critical panning.
However, some interesting facts about the film may tempt you to give it a chance. Here are five tidbits to convince you to hit theaters and watch Matthew Vaughn’s Argylle.
The Die Hard Connection
Matthew Vaughn has claimed Argylle’s biggest influences, including action classics like 1987’s Lethal Weapon and 1988’s Die Hard. With that being the case, how could it be anything other than an enjoyable action romp? They’re two of the most satisfying action movies in cinema history, and if Argylle possesses even a hint of their energy, it’s got to be worth watching. Moreover, Argylle’s name is a tribute to the Die Hard character of the same name (with one “L”). He was John McClane’s limousine driver, played so memorably by De’voreaux White.
Apple Spent $200 Million On The Distribution Rights
Universal Pictures distributes Argylle, which was co-produced by Apple Original Films, Marv Studios, and Cloudy Productions. That’s a lot of corporate oomph, which should give viewers confidence in the film’s quality. However, the amount Apple paid for distribution rights should cement that confidence. The multinational technology company spent a whopping $200 million to acquire said rights, meaning they must have faith in its ability to entertain. That’s the kind of statistic that should persuade people to ignore the harsh critics.
Henry Cavill Is Allergic To Cats
Argylle heavily features a nightmarish Scottish Fold cat called Alfie. While his performance is heavily digitized, Chip – Matthew Vaughn’s real-life family cat, belonging to him and his wife Claudia Schiffer – plays the abomination who belongs to Bryce Dallas Howard’s Elly Conway in the film. With his dead eyes and terrifying aggression, the character is enough to put anyone off felines for life. Now, imagine how Henry Cavill felt, given that he’s allergic to the animals. Although his eponymous character didn’t interact much with the creature, it adds a layer of fun to watching Argylle, knowing the cat was on set as Cavill desperately tried to avoid it to prevent bouts of itchiness and chronic sneezing.
Bryce Dallas Howard Modelled Elly On Taylor Swift
The hundreds of millions of Taylor Swift fans – or “Swifties” – worldwide should be flocking to see Argylle for one reason: Bryce Dallas Howard says she modeled her character, Elly Conway, in the movie on Swift. On an appearance on Great Britain’s The Graham Norton Show, Bryce told the host:
“The reality is she was in many ways a great inspiration. She is a cat lady. She’s got this awesome backpack with a cat in that she walks around with. She loves a good argyle sweater, and there is a sort of unapologetic dorkiness about her. That’s a little bit like what my character is like.”
What are you waiting for, Swifties? Go and see the fantastic character your idol inspired in action in Argylle.
Kingsman Links And Easter Eggs
Anyone who is a fan of Matthew Vaughn’s brilliant Kingsman franchise should flock to their nearest movie theater to watch Argylle, as they’d be in for a treat. Not only does Argylle reunite Kingsman: The Secret Service stars Samuel L. Jackson with Sofia Boutella, but there are also a couple of fun Kingsman Easter eggs in the film. For example, a beer can in a London park bears the Statesman label – Statesman Whiskey was prominently featured in Kingsman: The Golden Circle. In the mid-credits scene, the Kingsman Arms pub appears. Finally, in the post-credit scene, the young Argylle is revealed to be a Kingsman agent, and the first novel is based on his life. Matthew Vaughn has revealed the two franchises may crossover shortly.
