‘Argylle’ a fun ride that will keep you guessing

By Matt Pascarella

Rated: PG-13
Runtime: 2 hours, 19 minutes

This movie takes place in or around “The Kingsman” universe, but I’m not familiar with that universe and enjoyed this film immensely. I wasn’t asking myself a lot of questions that may have been answered in previous movies.

Elly Conway is a popular writer who likes to keep to herself. Her “Argylle” series tells the story of a secret agent and a global spy network that unintentionally begins happening in real life. She is approached by an espionage agent, Aidan, who wants her to tell him what happens next in her series, so he can stop Director Ritter and protect the world. However, there may be things Aidan isn’t telling her.

“Argylle” stars Bryce Dallas Howard, Henry Cavill, Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, Dua Lipa, Ariana DeBose, Samuel L. Jackson, John Cena, and Catherine O’Hara.

Elly Conway (Howard) is a successful writer of the spy series “Argylle” and is finishing a reading where an enthusiastic group has many questions about the series.

This movie begins with action right away. Elly has finished book five in her spy series. Her mother (O’Hara) really wants to know what happens. She tells Elly the book isn’t ready and needs another chapter – readers can’t be left on a cliffhanger.

Ellie is struggling with the ending. She decides to take a train (she has a fear of flying) to visit her mom. A guy sits down next to her – despite her mild protest – and asks if she’s read the “Argylle” series. He (Rockwell) quickly recognizes her; his name is Aidan. He works in espionage.

As it turns out, no one on the train can be trusted and Aidan helps Elly and her cat Alfie escape. He tells her it’s bear-hug-o’clock as they escape from the train.

Elly wakes up in a cabin and Aidan tells her all about Director Ritter (Cranston) and what he is trying to do. Aidan says that her books have been predicting events in real time. He thinks Elly’s imagination is the key to stopping Ritter.

She is weary of trusting Aidan, but he seems legitimate. The two go to London.

Aidan wants to know how book five ends. As Elly is trying to help, they are located by Ritter. It’s a race against time to figure out what happens. Elly is onto a clue.

Aidan and Elly find something in a lock box. Ritter is not far behind.

Elly overhears Aidan on the phone and wonders if she is in trouble and if Aidan really is who he says.

Elly’s mother and father meet her in London.

Aidan warns her more bad guys are coming. She and Aidan go to France where they meet Alfie (Jackson).

Alfie says it’s time to meet the real Agent Argylle. The bigger the spy, the bigger the lie.

She and Aidan head to the Arabian Peninsula. Ritter is still following them.

This is a great movie. It had action, humor, a lot of twists and turns, all coupled with an all-star cast who give stellar performances. I was guessing until the very end; “what’s really going on here?” The movie is a little on the long side, but it kept me engrossed and waiting to see what would happen next. It’s one of the better mystery movies I’ve seen in recent years. There is extremely mild language, and I didn’t think it was overly violent.

Parts toward the end were a little silly and overdone, but I think that was on purpose. See this on the big, big screen – you won’t regret it. Stick around past the credits for an extra scene that sheds light on ... well, you’ll have to see that to figure that out.

Two cat backpacks up.

Now playing only in theaters. <

Movie Review: ‘Jurassic World Dominion,’ solid movie, big action

By Matt Pascarella

Rated: PG-13

Runtime: 2 hours, 27 minutes

In this sixth installment to the “Jurassic Park” storyline, it is four years after the fall of the Isla Nubar. Dinosaurs and man now co-exist.

Biosyn Genetics are dedicated to using dinosaurs to teach us more about the human race. They have a dinosaur sanctuary in Italy’s Dolomite Mountains.

Biosyn’s intentions are less than pure, and CEO Lewis Dodgson creates more trouble than solutions in this action-packed dinosaur adventure.

“Jurassic World: Dominion” stars Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Laura Dern, Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum, Isabella Sermon, Campbell Scott, DeWanda Wise, Mamoudou Athie, BD Wong, and Justice Smith.

Claire Dearing (Howard) and Owen Grady (Pratt) live in a secluded cabin in the woods with Maisie Lockwood (Sermon), the cloned granddaughter of now deceased Benjamin Lockwood. They have been protecting her from Biosyn who wants to study her DNA.

A species of incredibly large locusts has shown up in a field and are threatening the human food supply. Paleobotanist Ellie Sattler (Dern) suspects Biosyn is the cause of this, but she needs evidence to prove it. She recruits paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant (Neill).

The two of them travel to Biosyn where they meet CEO Lewis Dodgson (Scott) and are reunited with chaos theorist Ian Malcolm (Goldblum).

Despite working for Biosyn, Malcolm is helping Sattler and Grant get the proof they need about the locusts. Things don’t go their way in trying to get that proof.

In the meantime, Lockwood is kidnapped along with Grady’s velociraptor Blue’s child, named Beta.

Malcolm says the Doomsday Clock might be out of time.

Dr. Henry Wu (Wong) warns Dodgson that the locusts are a problem that will only get worse.

Dr. Wu would like to study Lockwood so he can fix a terrible mistake he made.

On their way to find Lockwood and Beta, Grady and Dearing discover an underground dinosaur black market.

Here there is a very action-packed scene that might have you on the edge-of-your-seat where Grady is on a dirt bike chased by several dinosaurs.

Dearing meets pilot Kayla Watts (Wise) who agrees to fly her and Grady to Biosyn. They don’t make it there on a direct flight.

Once Dodgson learns of the breach with Grant and Sattler, he fires Malcolm.

Dodgson burns the locusts to destroy the evidence. More than just the locusts catch fire.

Eventually, both groups meet: Grady, Dearing, Sattler, Malcolm, Grant and Lockwood. Now they must escape.

Everyone heads underground. Can they escape?

What about Dodgson?

This is a fun conclusion to the “Jurassic Park” storyline. I found it to be visually impressive with a lot of great dinosaur battle scenes and interaction between human and gigantic beast.

The movie is a bit on the longer side, but I thought it was relatively well-paced. Plus, there was enough intense action to keep me invested in the storyline. My only complaint were the giant locusts; I’m not a fan of really big bugs.

It was fun to see some of the original cast together onscreen for the first time since the first movie in 1993. See this one on the big screen.

Two thumbs up.

Now playing in theaters. <