'Moonlight' is a coming of age drama that explores a lot of subjects throughout that normally would not be mentioned in this particular genre of film, it particularly focuses on sexuality within young black boys. Whereas, 'Kingsman' is an comedy, spy, action film that takes classic spy films like Bond films and adds a comedic value to it. Initially 'Moonlight' and 'Kingsman' seem like two completely unrelated movies in regards to the genre and overall narrative of them both. However, the films have a lot of similarities particularly when exploring masculinity.
In both the films there is a lack of biological father figures, but there is an unbiological father figure and dominant male to look up to. In 'Kingsman' this was 'Harry Hart', who mentored the main character 'Eggsy'. In 'Moonlight' the male role model was 'Mr. Pierce', who helped 'Little'. In both these films the male figures acted as mentors and role models for both of the main characters to look up to, particularly during times of crisis or when in need of support.
Another thing these films both have in common are the lack of support from the mother figure. In both films the mothers are dependent on drugs and men for sexual relations and pay more attention to that than their children. Due to the absence of the mother in these films the main characters find support through the use of the mentor instead.
The representation of masculinity is explored highly throughout both films, in 'Moonlight' masculinity is explored through the use of the main character, particularly during his teens, not dressing and acting like the rest of the boys did. This is shown in one scene where two of the boys from his class come up to him and start to make fun of him for his jeans being "too skinny". Contrasting this, the use of how male sexuality is explored in this film links in with his masculinity, his friend 'Kevin' boasts to him about a girl he is with and is later on shown to be gay. This denotes that he only boasted about being with girls to appear tough and masculine to other boys when in reality he was hiding from his sexuality. Towards the end of the film, the aforementioned character 'Little' is now grown up and is muscly and tough. His outside demeanour portrays the epitome of a masculine man but this is later on contrasted by him being with his mother and trying to keep up his tough exterior but eventually ends up crying, also when he sees his friend 'Kevin' again after a long time apart and how they instantly connect shows a relationship between them is more important than keeping up the masculine appearance.
In 'Kingsman', masculinity is explored evidently throughout from the use of body language and overall language as well as clothing and the type of job that he goes into. At the beginning of the film he is a tough male who gets into trouble with the police and doesn't have emotion but as the movie goes on he becomes more in touch with his emotion, this is shown through the use of the dog as at the beginning he disregards the puppy as it is small and useless but as the film goes on he grows attached to it and when he is told to shoot it, he goes against the instructions due to the emotional attachment that has grown. His masculinity is also shown massively towards the end as he has to take control of the situation and kill the 'villain', due to him succeeding he gets the princess and the job he wanted.
In conclusion both 'Moonlight' and 'Kingsman' explore the use of masculinity and the role of a supportive male throughout as well as the movie going on a journey to see the main character grow into a more successful person overall through the use of their struggles and how they overcome them.
