Kingsman * * *

When I was a lad I loved the 60’s BBC production “The Avengers”.   John Steed was my hero, so it was a buzz to see him re-created - more or less - in this fun film with Colin Firth playing a London Gentleman with extraordinary fighting skills.   It’s a bit BBC quirkiness, a bit James Bond and even a bit Harry Potter.  Fine old English buildings with timber lined rooms - stuffed full of antiques and red and green leather furniture - which house “special service” divisions that hardly any one, except perhaps “Her Majesty” know about.  They keep England safe.  But they do need to recruit from time to time and then put the candidates through a hellish training program which makes for the best part of this film. The latter part is all big explosions etc as they bring down the Bond type villain.  Although it is a giggle, this grand finale - being mostly explosions and little dialogue - is the weakest part of the film if you ask me, but you've got to have it I guess.  It was directed by Matthew Vaughan who gave us Kick Ass.  But overall, this is good fun couple of hours.  Don’t leave as soon as the credits roll.  There is a fun tag which you don’t want to miss.