Matthew Vaughn Talks “Vitriolic” ‘Argylle’ Reviews: “My Guard Came Down”

Matthew Vaughn

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Matthew Vaughn was not expecting the demise Argylle, the director said this week.

“My guard came down on Argylle,” Vaughn told Empire. “We had done test screenings that had gone fantastically well. The premiere was a really fun night, and it was like going back to the Snatch days where there was such excitement. And I started drinking the Kool-Aid.”

The Hollywood Reporter slammed the spy comedy film for “its mirthless, shouty performances, its tortured random plot twists and its appallingly shonky-looking CGI” and the movie now holds 33 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.

“It’s a fun, feel-good movie, or I thought it was a fun, feel-good movie,” Vaughn continued. “We didn’t make Citizen Kane, but fucking hell, then the reviews came out and I’m like, ‘Wait, what have I done to offend these people?’ They were vitriolic. I’m not saying the movie’s perfect by any means, but I didn’t think it was offensive. That took me by surprise.”

Vaughn said he had a hard time believing the critical reception, even going to movie theaters to watch the movie again. I thought, ‘Maybe I’ve lost the plot now.’ It did rattle me,” he said. “I’m genuinely scratching my head about that, because you can’t ignore it. It wasn’t like [just] a few bad reviews.”

Nevertheless, the director is leaving the situation in the past. “It is what it is,” he said. “You learn from these things.”

Plus, one never knows how attitudes could still change. “We’re doing very well on streaming,” Vaughn said. “People are liking it. Nothing would make me happier than making another one. I’m getting texts saying, ‘Wow, those reviews were fucking harsh!’ The more we can get people to watch Argylle, the more chance we make another one. I’d love to make another one, we’ve got it planned.”