--- title: "Argylle: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/argylle/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/argylle" critics_score: 44 critics_reviews: 18 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Argylle (2024): what the critics said Critics' score 44 from 18 reviews: 4 positive, 3 mixed, 11 negative. Most critics are unimpressed. The reviews broadly agree that the premise, a spy novelist dragged into real espionage, is a promising one, and that Matthew Vaughn buries it under too many twists. Where there is praise it lands on the two leads, with several critics singling out the pairing of Bryce Dallas Howard and Sam Rockwell, and on the action, which a minority find inventive and cartoonish in the Kingsman manner. The complaints are consistent: a convoluted plot, a bloated runtime, cheap-looking digital effects and a meta streak that many find smug rather than clever. The spread is wide. Empire, Collider and Consequence treat it as a light romp and rate it well; The Guardian and The Telegraph find it close to unwatchable. Even the action divides them, held up by Vulture as the one highlight and dismissed by The Telegraph as lazy. Howard splits critics too, charming to some and, for The Guardian, the film’s weakest element. ## Empire — Ben Travis Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 31 January 2024. The critic praises the film's playful twists and meta elements as a lighter Vaughn spy romp. Howard and Rockwell's chemistry and inventive action stand out as highlights. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/argylle/) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 31 January 2024. The critic notes that the convoluted spy caper with plot twists never knits together satisfyingly despite fun moments, an impressive cast and explosive set pieces, ultimately tying itself in knots. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/argylle-review/5189957.article) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 31 January 2024. Matthew Vaughn's catawampus spy comedy is convoluted and sticks to an exaggerated CG aesthetic, with a fun premise of a fiction writer pulled into real espionage but ultimately a badly written effort that leaves audiences cross-eyed from twists. It finds some groove in its kitschy style but remains exhausting. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2024/film/reviews/argylle-review-1235892677/) ## Total Film — Kevin Harley Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 31 January 2024. The critic calls it a well-cast romp that lacks focus and discipline. Overstuffed set pieces and loose satire undermine its potential. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/argylle-review/) ## Evening Standard — Martin Robinson Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 1 February 2024. The critic finds the constant twists turn the film into an unengaging froth despite likeable leads. It lacks drama, suspense and heart and soul. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/argylle-review-kitsch-spy-film-twists-itself-into-a-froth-b1135974.html) ## Little White Lies — Hannah Strong Rating 2/2/2. 3 February 2024. The critic finds the film derivative and charmless, with an overcomplicated yet generic plot, bloated runtime and cheap-looking aesthetic that fails to deliver enjoyment despite the cast's efforts. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/argylle) ## RogerEbert.com — Robert Daniels Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 31 January 2024. The film starts as a promising spoof of spy movies but becomes a stumbling, overcooked action flick that forgets its punchline and turns forgettable. It struggles with thin plotting, thankless roles for major stars, and a dreary finale that fails to balance parody with seriousness. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/argylle-film-review-2024) ## The New Yorker — Kyle Chayka Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 13 February 2024. A cutesy and convoluted spy film that exemplifies Hollywood's extreme contortions to justify original I.P. stories through endless twists, meta-references, and franchise teases. It lacks rounded human relationships and feels like an ominous forecast for never-ending content cycles. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/infinite-scroll/argylle-is-the-ip-ouroboros-that-hollywood-hath-wrought) ## The New York Times — Alissa Wilkinson Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 1 February 2024. A simulacrum of a spy movie that offers few pleasures and plenty of headaches. The cat cannot save this convoluted, headache-inducing effort from director Matthew Vaughn. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/01/movies/argylle-review.html) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 31 January 2024. The critic finds the film an unbearably smug and self-satisfied spy caper that fails to deliver fun due to its dull meta-narrative, phoned-in cameos and awful lead performance from Bryce Dallas Howard. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/31/argylle-review-unbearably-self-satisfied-smirk-of-a-spy-caper-from-matthew-vaughn) ## Los Angeles Times — Katie Walsh Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 2 February 2024. Should be a lot more fun but is an unbearable headache and one of the most expensive worst movies ever made, with bone-deep structural issues and failure of directorial execution. Sam Rockwell provides a rare bright spot amid the digital dreck and juvenile action. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2024-02-02/argylle-review-bryce-dallas-howard-sam-rockwell-dua-lipa-matthew-vaughn) ## The Telegraph — Robbie Collin Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 2 February 2024. The critic calls the film a woeful espionage caper with some of the stupidest action scenes imaginable, criticising its lazy execution, fourth-rate CGI and overall insulting quality despite the star cast. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/argylle-review-henry-cavill-dua-lipa-john-cena/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Leslie Felperin 31 January 2024. The critic calls the film a new low for the director, citing jokes that fail to land, an overly long runtime, cartoonish violence that amounts to smoke and mirrors, and overly aggressive Apple product placement. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/argylle-review-bryce-dallas-howard-sam-rockwell-henry-cavill-dua-lipa-1235810576/) ## The Times — Kevin Maher Rating ★☆☆☆☆. 31 January 2024. The critic sees the film as a new low for Matthew Vaughn, with lazy, derivative and nonsensical plotting, empty CGI spectacle and underwhelming performances that abandon any promise of originality. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/argylle-film-review-matthew-vaughns-lazy-nonsense-is-a-new-low-tzht5q9xq) ## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri 2 February 2024. The critic finds the spy story messy, overcooked, and tedious with too many twists, but singles out the inventive and creative action sequences as a highlight. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/argylle-review-a-silly-spy-caper-thats-trying-very-hard.html) ## Collider — Maggie Lovitt Rating 8/10. 31 January 2024. The film is a fun, light-hearted spy romp and perfect date movie, with strong chemistry between Bryce Dallas Howard and Sam Rockwell and stylish action in the vein of the Kingsman series. [Read the review](https://collider.com/argylle-movie-review/) ## Consequence Rating B. 31 January 2024. Vaughn delivers an escapist, crowd-pleasing action comedy with inventive, cartoonish set pieces staged like dances and accompanied by disco music. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2024/01/argylle-review-matthew-vaughn/) ## /Film — Ethan Anderton Rating 7/10. 31 January 2024. The review praises the wild action, big twists, and romance elements that make it mostly satisfying, highlighting the chemistry between Rockwell and Howard and innovative action sequences, while noting some clumsiness and too many twists. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1505729/argylle-review/) ## Digital Spy — Ian Sandwell Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 31 January 2024. The film starts with a promising unique meta spin on the spy genre but quickly becomes a generic and convoluted thriller that loses its edge. Occasional sparks like a late dance fight scene are noted, but the overlong runtime and lack of originality are criticized. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a46532009/argylle-review/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 31 January 2024. The film is a convoluted and overly long spy thriller that struggles with repetitive plotting and fails to deliver a coherent franchise setup. Bryce Dallas Howard delivers a charming and magnetic lead performance, with strong chemistry alongside Sam Rockwell highlighted as a standout element. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/matthew-vaughn-argylle-review-henry-cavill/) ## Polygon — Oli Welsh Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 31 January 2024. The heavy meta elements and self-aware irony undercut any genuine romance or excitement, leaving the film feeling insincere and distancing the audience despite its flashy action. [Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/24056024/argylle-review-henry-cavill-bryce-dallas-howard-matthew-vaughn/) ## Den of Geek — Joe George Rating 2 out of 5. 31 January 2024. The critic finds that Matthew Vaughn's clever ideas are undone by tired spy tropes and familiar beats executed poorly. The action set pieces in the final act stand out as highlights, but the film overall feels like an echo of a better movie. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/argylle-review/) ## Film Stories — Maria Lattila 31 January 2024. The critic finds the film peculiarly and endearingly stupid with excellent fight choreography and a fun action sequence, but criticizes the formulaic plot, thin characters, too many obvious twists, and lack of gore. Overall, it's a chaotic thrill ride that one can still have a good time with despite its flaws. [Read the review](https://filmstories.co.uk/reviews/argylle-review-matthew-vaughns-spy-film-is-sometimes-dumb-fun-mostly-just-dumb/) ## NME — Nick Levine Rating 3. 1 February 2024. This James Bond spoof delivers simple, dumb fun with an ingenious screenplay full of twists and strong performances, especially from Bryce Dallas Howard. It is hampered by strange pacing and a bloated runtime that causes it to overstay its welcome. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/argylle-review-henry-cavill-dua-lipa-3580545) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/argylle.md