Film

Argylle

Name: Argylle
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy
Released: 2024
Cast: Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, Henry Cavill, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O'Hara

A spy comedy wrapped in Matthew Vaughn's signature candy-coloured chaos. Bryce Dallas Howard plays a reclusive novelist whose fictional spy novels inexplicably mirror real assassinations, dragging her and a sardonic agent across the globe. It's aggressively silly, visually overstuffed, and committed entirely to the bit—not everyone's jam, but if you love spy craft remixed as pure spectacle, it delivers.

TMDb rating

3.0

If you liked this

Kingsman: The Secret Service2015

Matthew Vaughn's earlier spy comedy perfected the formula: outrageous action setpieces, impossibly charming leads, and a willingness to let absurdity bloom. If you enjoyed Argylle's tone, this is where it came from.

But The violence is heavy and graphic in ways that undercut the humor for some viewers. It can feel smug about its own cleverness.

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.2015

Henry Cavill gets to be genuinely funny here, trading brooding intensity for dry wit and impeccable spy tradecraft. The plot is gossamer, but it's a beautiful-looking lark with real charm between the action.

But It's deliberately paced and low-key, which reads as slow if you're expecting bombast. Some find Cavill's delivery too mannered.

Bullet Train2022

Brad Pitt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and a brilliant ensemble in a contained action comedy that's loud, fast, and genuinely inventive. Proves the spy-action-comedy formula still works when everyone commits.

But It's relentlessly quippy and violent. The stylization can feel exhausting if you're not in the mood for maximum energy.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Argylle

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Kingsman: The Golden Circle2017

Argylle is essentially Matthew Vaughn's DNA spread across a spy-comedy blueprint. Watching this shows you what he's trying to do, and where his sensibility leads when given freedom and budget.

This sequel doubles down on everything that makes Vaughn's spy-comedy formula work: audacious setpieces, an absurdly stacked cast (Jeff Bridges, Channing Tatum, Julianne Moore), and genuine emotional stakes beneath the chaos. It's louder and weirder than the first.

But It's bloated and sometimes loses the plot in its own excess. The runtime drags in the middle, and some jokes land harder than others in a film with no off switch.

Spy Game2001

Robert Redford and Brad Pitt in a jaunty espionage romp that doesn't take itself seriously. Clever editing, genuine fun, and proof that spy comedies predate Vaughn's modernization.

But It's dated in its action language and sometimes feels sitcom-broad. The plot contrivances are paper-thin even by spy-comedy standards.

The Spy Who Dumped Me2018

Mila Kunis and Kate McKinnon have real chemistry in this spy-buddy comedy. It's genuinely funny, the action is competent, and it doesn't pretend to be smarter than it is.

But It's formulaic and occasionally clumsy. The spy plot is forgettable window-dressing around the friendship dynamic.

Johnny English Strikes Again2018

Rowan Atkinson's comic timing is impeccable, and the film knows exactly what it is: a spy-comedy vehicle that lands most of its gags. Comfort viewing done well.

But If physical comedy doesn't land for you, there's little else sustaining it. Very broad, intentionally slight.

Red Notice2021

Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, and Gal Gadot breezing through a heist-spy comedy with evident delight. It's frivolous, but the charisma is contagious and the locations are gorgeous.

But The plot is almost aggressively pointless. It relies entirely on star power and charm, with zero stakes or surprises.

Central Intelligence2016

Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart in a spy-buddy comedy with surprisingly genuine warmth beneath the pratfalls. Hart's desperation plays well against Johnson's deadpan.

But The chemistry can't sustain a thin premise. It's a film that's friendlier than it is funny, and overstays its welcome slightly.