The greater the spy, the bigger the lie. At least that’s what we keep hearing throughout Matthew Vaughn’s latest spy thriller Argylle. Written by Jason Fuchs, the Apple original film sees an all-star cast assemble for an epic spy adventure with more twists than you’d think to count. But thanks to some stylistic direction and a script that doesn’t take itself too seriously, it’s an overall good time even though it lingers on for too long.

Bryce Dallas Howard stars as Elly Conway, an anxiety-ridden author of a best-selling espionage novel series. When she’s not indulging enthusiastic fans at book readings, Elly spends her nights planning her next novel and hanging with her cat Alfie. That is until she’s hit with a sudden case of writer’s block. En route to her parents’ house for advice, Elly meets a real-life spy named Aidan (Sam Rockwell). He warns her that the adventures of Argylle mirror a real-life spy agency and current events, which turns her world upside down.

Argylle is crowd-pleasing even though it lingers on for too long.

There’s one thing you should know heading into Argylle. It’s a crowd-pleasing blend of wit, frivolity, and fun. The opening sequence sets the stage for what to expect for the remainder of the film. Henry Cavill’s Argylle is under a covert mission with John Cena when he runs into an enemy agent (Dua Lipa). On paper, that sounds like a simple scene. But Vaughn and Fuchs show and tell quite the opposite with honky dialogue and overly styled blocking and direction.

While this opening sequence sets the stage for the mayhem to come, it does take a while to find its footing as the story builds. However, there were a few chuckles here and there in the theater. There is, thankfully, a quick turning point, where Vaughn lets loose during the ‘strangers on a train‘ scene. Here, he unleashes a great action sequence that ramps up in style and amusement. Tom Harrison-Read and Lee Smith’s editing also stands out here, bringing to life an imaginative experience that will keep audiences glued to the screen.

Vaughn’s spy thriller amuses with zany sequences.

The downside to a film like Argylle is it doesn’t know when to pull back on its silliness. What was once a crowd-pleasing craze quickly turned into a goofy, over-the-top experience that didn’t know when to quit. Sure, the film is creative and amusing as a whole. However, the spark quickly died for me after realizing that these zany sequences would overstay their welcome. As a result, the film felt way longer than it is, which is saying something as it clocks in at 2 hours and 19 minutes.

What was once a crowd-pleasing craze quickly turned into a goofy, over-the-top experience that didn’t know when to quit.

Even with all the controlled chaos and insanity that ensues throughout Argylle, it’s worth seeing in theaters. Certainly, don’t expect a masterpiece, especially when several of the twists are predictable thanks to early clues and dead giveaways. However, this cast is great, the script is easy to follow, and it’s some good entertainment. Embrace the silliness because for what it’s worth, it’s enough to help you through a night of boredom.

Argylle is in theaters this Friday, February 2nd. Watch the trailer below: