| Spy Kids |
 |
 |
|
|
| Rating: Good Distributor: Dimension Films MPAA Rating: PG Release Date: March 30th, 2001 (wide) Running Length: 1 hour, 28 minutes Genre: Family, Children, Fantasy Director: Robert Rodriguez Cast: Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino, Alex Vega, Daryl Sabara, Alan Cumming, Cheech Martin, Teri Hatcher, Danny Trejo, Tony Shalhoub, and Robert Patrick. Cameo by George Clooney. |
| Plot: Two spies (Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino) fall in love, get married and retire. They have two children (Alex Vega and Daryl Sabara), and they believe raising them was just as difficult as being spies. Although they enjoy their new life they hear of a mission that is too tempting to not accept. However, they are captured, by Floop (Alan Cumming) who is a children's show star trying to take over the world. Once the children realize what has happened to their parents, who is behind it, and other specifics, they embark on a quest to save them. However, Floop and his assistant (Tony Shalhoub), have an army of robot children and thumb people. Also, they have turned many of talented spies into creatures for Floop's children's show. |
| Critique: Spy Kids is a recommendable family film, that has enough entertainment, and comedy (not all of which works for all ages) to deliver a good time. The film has many missteps, and a lot of it is too juvenile to translate well to other ages. Nonetheless, it's a creative, and exuberant motion picture, that boasts a delightful performance by Alan Cumming. The film has likable, and realistic children as protagonists, and they never seem irritating. Many filmmakers feel they need to make children irritating so that they depict reality, when truly that's only a select portion of the total young population. The film's copious imagery is sometimes excessive, but for the most part it is wonderfully original and works as a positive asset. The film has a kinetic and animated quality that should appeal to the majority of children viewers. Spy Kids is an ambitious film in many of its visual aspects, but is constantly playful in its plot turns, and comical in the actors' delivery of the material. It never takes itself too seriously, and finds a niche in flashy, kinetic and humorous storytelling. Alan Cumming is a large part of the film's humor, and provides appeal for older viewers. His buoyancy and sensitivity fuels the film whenever he is in front of the camera. Tony Shalhoub, who plays Cumming's assistant is also comical in a way that is primarily aimed at an older audience. The whole film is well acted, which carries the film when it becomes a bit tedious. In conclusion, Spy Kids is a flawed film, that is often boring, especially for older viewers. However, its imagination should be complimented, and Rodriguez's gentle direction in the face of high velocity images is effective. The film has knowing comedy, and solid acting that allows for a worthwhile motion picture. review by supernothingman |