REVIEW: 'Kingsman: The Golden Circle' falls flat

NEW YORK (WABC) -- The original 'Kingsman' movie grossed more than $400 million around the world, but recapturing the charm of the first one proves impossible -- especially when the sequel runs 141 mind-numbing minutes!

'Kingsman: The Golden Circle' brings Colin Firth's character back from the dead. He was shot in the head at point blank range in the first film, and that right there will tell you not to expect too much her to be too REAL.

As before, the secret agents are based out of the same London tailor shop by the name of Kingsman, but this time they're working with Americans.

Channing Tatum's character is named Tequila. Halle Berry, looking very subdued in glasses, has a small part as assisting him with Jeff Bridges as the boss of 'Statesman' - an American whiskey brand which is the U.S. front for the crime fighters.

One critic has accused the stars of "cashing paychecks" and as entertaining as they can be, it does seem that financial concerns trump artistic ones here, but Julianne Moore's motives appear to be a bit different. She has so much fun playing a villain - a drug dealer no less - the Oscar winner is looking to be having a blast turning human beings into hamburger meat... and worse.

These days computer-generated imagery allows any filmmaker to defy the laws of gravity. Defy logic and reason, too. So, there's no need to be grounded in reality if you can show anything, but the risk, of course, is that it all adds up to NOTHING!!!

'Kingsman: The Golden Circle' is rated R because it is REALLY violent, and I was appalled to find so many young kids at a screening I attended. A boy who looked to be about 7 or 8 sat next to me while his Mom happily chowed down on popcorn next to him. Honestly, I can't think what purpose could possibly be served by taking a child to see such a violent and pointless movie!