Rating: 
Summary: A beautiful mix of action and whimsy; a gem!
Review: I've been a fan of Robert Rodriguez from the first moment I saw "El Mariachi," and each successive film has just given me more reason to be a fan. With "Spy Kids," Rodriguez changes gears, giving us his first film for kids, and the first film where he finally gives free rein to the sense of whimsy and fantasy hinted at in previous films.While the film is nominally a kid's film -- a surreal children's television show that makes the Teletubbies look mundane features prominently in the story -- the humor and action is genuinely good for all ages. At one point, pre-teen heroine Carmen Cortez says that no one knows what her uncle does for a living, and he moves around a lot, and is generally mysterious. To which her uncle replies "doesn't everyone have an uncle like that?" Well, yes, we do. :) Beyond Antonio Banderas' star power -- and he does a very knowing self-parody of his own traditional parts in the movie -- other strong performances by "name" actors pepper the film, including Teri Hatcher, Tony Shaloub, Robert Patrick, Cheech Marin and -- one of those actors viewers know by sight, if not by name -- Danny Trejo. Overall, the action is kinetic, the message sweet, the kids believable and not in the least cloying (a true rarity in film), and overall, the film is a great treat for Rodriguez fans who have been watching his evolution towards more and more fantastic material (something that seemed obviously in his blood ever since the climax of "Desperado"). Recommended for fans of Robert Rodriguez, spy film fans in touch with their inner child, and families of children ages 6 and up.
Rating: 
Summary: Spy Kids Are Gonna Save The World
Review: * In the beginning of Robert Rodriguez's move SPY KIDS,
we meet two grade-school kids, Carmen Cortez and her
little brother Juni (Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara), who
are suffering through the usual trials of being kids
and have no idea that their parents, Gregorio and Ingrid
Cortez (An-TONIO Ban-DERAS! and Carla Gugino), are actually
retired ace superspies. Suddenly Gregorio and Ingrid are captured by a
supervillain named Floop (Alan Cummings), who is torn between
his desire to get his children's TV show from the Number
Two popularity slot to the top, and his plans for world
domination. Carmen and Juni then find out that their
parents weren't as dull as they thought, and embark on
a mission, aided by gadgets built by the mercenary
inventor Machete (Danny Trejo), to rescue their parents
and save the world. Now SPY KIDS might sound from this description like
an utterly dumb and silly kid's movie that would make
little ones laugh and adults groan in pain, but
Rodriguez is such a clever fellow that he has managed
to make a movie that is a riot for both kids and
adults. SPY KIDS throws endless, sharply produced
gimmickry at the viewer, from rocket belts to fish-shaped
minisubs to magic refrigerators to holographic video
chambers, with the two kids sometimes hard-pressed to
get things to work right -- the rocket belts are a
particular trial. Add to this roller-coaster action and a lot of snappy
and funny scriptwriting, and you have a fun and
impressive virtual theme-park thrill ride, nicely
balanced in its ability to toss out jokes just for the
kids and humor for the older folks, too, and still
tell an engaging story that never takes itself
seriously for an instant. Even the enlightening messages
of family and personal values, obligatory for a kid's
movie, are served out with a bit of a wink that make
them much less heavy-handed. I howled all the way through SPY KIDS. I'll have to
watch the sequel now.
Rating:
Summary: Refreshing family fun, but not Bond
Review: This is like Bond for the family, some say... Yeah, right. If your child has ever seen a Bond movie, he (or she) will be more inclined to like Bond more, depending on which era of special effects they've seen. If you want this as a taste of Bond, think again. Spy movies are all over, all of which are more Bond-esque: I Spy, xXx, The Bourne Identity, Minority Report (does that count?) Agent Cody Banks, Agent Cody Banks 2 (both PG) and, of course, the real thing, Die Another Day. However, if you're in the mood for zany action, zanier gadgets, wacky villains, odd creatures, and jokes that you don't have to think about... then you found it. There are three choices of summer entertainment for your kid. If they're an action/spy fan, take 'em to Spy Kids. If they like the talking animal thing, it's Ice Age, or better yet, Cats and Dogs. And if they aren't fussy about their comedy but have some understanding of more sophisticated humor, Shrek's the deal. Monsters Inc. is endearing, but not particularly funny.
Carmen and Juni are just two ordinary kids, even if Carmen has a habit of skipping school and Juni is picked on for his obsession with a certain TV show. But what they don't know are that their parents are really retired spies. (It'd be hard for them not to be, with the looks of Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino.) The two spy parents are called out of retirement to investigate the disappearance of three fellow agents. Since they're a little rusty, they quickly are caught. Carmen and Juni are sent by their Uncle Felix (not really related) to the "safehouse." They meet a spy there, who tells them a little about the "third brain," but that's just before she steals it and escapes with misshapen thugs.
Meanwhile, Mom and Dad are in the castle of Floop (Alan Cummings, acting like Jim Carrey but with the right look for his role), a zany children's TV show host. Unfortunately, since he is attempting world domination by planting robotic children in the place of children like, say, the President's daughter, he cannot devote enough time to the show, which Juni happens to be be obsessed with. To give the robots the ability to function in society, Floop needs the "third brain." It's up to Carmen and Juni, along with their real uncle Machete (a spy turned mercenary gadget dealer) to turn Floop around and stop the robotic kids, as well as Floop's evil minion, Minion.
This movie has the predictable gadgets (exploding candy, world's smallest camera) to Bond-ish (car/submarine, laser ring) to original. The original ones include a machine that reads clay scultpures to alter a person's face. Wow, sculptor would soon be the highest-paying job once everyone started turning themselves into Orlando Bloom and Monica Belucci. Soon all of the robotic kids are devoted to rescuing firefighters and such, and they're all one big happy family. There is one delightful spoof of spies in general: When the President contacts the Cortez family via TV, he has a black rectangle, hanging in midair, covering his eyes. When he's certain it's actually the Cortezes, he pulls the black strip away from his eyes and begins to talk.
All in all, Spy Kids is a great movie, just perfect for kids who think of spies as using motion sensors and passwords instead of automatics and indestructible cars. This is not by any means the best performance of any of the actors (except perhaps Carla Gugino, but she is generally not in too many challenging roles). Alan Cumming is great, but his character in X2 is deeper. Rent it, but you may be owning it soon.
Rating:
Summary: Imaginative, Funny, Entertaining, and at Times, Surreal
Review: This is an excellent family film, with plenty of action, comedy, and solid pro-family messages for both kids and parents, messages which don't beat you over the head or drip with saccharine. A great mix of fantasy, adventure, James Bondian gadgets, and kid-accessible characters and themes. Director Robert Rodriguez, best known for his ultra-violent films such as "El Mariachi," "Desperado," and "From Dusk Til Dawn," crafts an well-paced, well-told, and highly enjoyable story. I easily sat through this film in the theater, pleased with its impressive production values, acting, story, special effects, and its sheer imagination. I was engaged and interested from the very beginning, as were my kids (4 and 6). I remain impressed by the clearly adult themes (and visuals) of the opening boy spy-meets-girl spy bedtime story, as we slowly realize that the story being told was that of the now boring, predictable, and thoroughly domesticated mom and dad. We've watched this film dozens of times since, and it's still easy to sit through, great fun for both me and the kids. The morals of the story are clear enough to any adult viewer: the importance of family and family support, the importance of believing in yourself, and the importance of being open and honest. My 4-year-old son picked up clearly on all three messages, without any pointers from me. By the end of the film, everyone has matured in one way or another, every character has gained insight, and the family is closer than it ever was before. There are great supporting appearances by Cheech Marin and Robert Patrick (Terminator 2), although we sadly don't see enough of either. Alan Cumming as the fanciful and ultimately influential Floop is very enjoyable. Tony Shalhoub is great fun, as he is in any role, as the diabolical master manipulator, initially in the background who eventually becomes the ultimate bad guy, Alexander Minion. His best line, as he takes over: "I can assure you, it's MISTER Minion now." He gets his in the end, naturally, but it is not unpleasant or gory. It's actually quite comical, and he appears even to accept the final result/punishment he has brought upon himself. There are a number of other celebrity cameos here, including Teri Hatcher, "Beavis and Butthead" creator Mike Judge as Donnagon, George Clooney right at the end as Devlin, and a very stealthy Dick Clark as one of Floop's financiers. The story of the kids discovering that their parents are spies, having to strike out on their own with neither knowledge nor support, and then using their smarts and talents to take action to regain control of the situation and find their parents is plausible throughout, even when they're flying over the ocean and desert in personal jetpacks and mini-jet planes. We trace the kids from their home into the bad guy's lair, and the journey is easily believable and logical. The gadgets are a treat, from mini-jet planes to personal flying Buddy Pacs to homing devices, electrostatic gum, pinpoint video cameras, submarine minivans, instant McDonald microwave meals, and a totally cool Super Guppy submarine. The best part is that the kids get almost all of the gadgets, and they put them to instant good use defeating the bad guys. There are plenty of good comic bits to liven up the film as well, both jokes and sight gags. The kids act and talk like kids throughout, which adds to their plausibility of the film. The humor is both juvenile and adult, and presented in such a way as to keep the two separate, as they should be. There is no swearing, no blood or gore, no violence (some minor fighting), no gunplay or weapons, no nudity, and no drugs. Spy Kids is original, creative family fare, great for a video/DVD purchase and repeated viewings at home. The messages in the movie are strong and highly positive, yet subtle enough not to overshadow enjoyment of the story, its characters, and their adventures.
Rating:
Summary: Imaginative, Fun Family Film
Review: Carmen and Juni are two kids who are just trying to grow up. Carmen resents always having to look out for her brother, and Juni is constantly afraid of everything and is the bullies' favorite target at school. But one day, they learn that their parents are really spies who have been kidnapped. The kids soon realize that they alone must find and rescue them. Along the way, Carmen and Juni will have to learn to work as a family if they have any hope of returning home alive. This is a delightful film the entire family can enjoy together. The plot is cleaver and entertaining so everyone will enjoy it, and the characters are endearing. I especially love the scene where Juni meets his hero Floop and gives him advice. There is definitely a strong message about the importance of family, but it is brought out by the story and never feels too preachy. A movie with this much imagination doesn't come along very often. Children of all ages will enjoy this purely escapist adventure.
Rating:
Summary: A fun family movie...from the director of Desperado
Review: I don't remember Spy Kids being in theaters very long, which is too bad. I would have seen the movie if someone just told me "Robert Rodriguez, Antonio Banderas, Danny Trejo", so I rushed to rent it on DVD. It's bizarre seeing a Rodriguez movie that's rated PG, but he knows how to film action (comes from the Sam Raimi school), so it's just as fun. Banderas and Carla Gugino play two suave expert international spies who fall in love and marry (in a very cool, James Bond -esque opening) but realize they are too much of a target together, so they (supposedly) give up espionage to settle down and raise a family. They agree not to tell their kids what they did before, but the kids find out when the parents are kidnapped by an evil toy making genius, and set out, with a ton of really cool-a$s gadgets, to rescue them. If you're a fan of Rodriguez, definitely check this out. I read an interview where he said he got the idea from his section of 4 Rooms, The Misbehavers (and hey, for most of the movie Banderas looks like he did in 4 Rooms, fine with me, whoo-hooooo!)and saw the little kids dressed in tuxes. To be honest, I'm personally never very thrilled to see movies that feature kids in prominent roles, but the movie was so entertaining I didn't mind; the kids are also great. Some of the humor is aimed at grade-schoolers, so it's not the funniest RR movie I've ever seen, but that's OK. There's a ton of cool gadgets and weapons, most of them pretty original; the sets are also incredible, the art direction has a Terry Gilliam-type feel to it...with a little early Tim Burton mixed in. I don't have kids, but it seems like a fine family movie to me; No-one gets killed, there's a positive message, there's Antonio Banderas to look at. RR regulars Cheech Marin and Danny Trejo (as a good guy!) show up; so does one of the stars of from Dusk Till Dawn in a cameo (hint: he is not a hard guy to look at). Maybe some RR fans will find parts a little sugary, but I didn't (then again, I'm a sap). Very entertaining, and I don't think that a family spy movie has ever been done before. Not much in the way of extras on the DVD, just trailers, and if there are easter eggs, I couldn't find them, but the movie is strong enough to speak for itself.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't Watch This Movie
Review: I saw this movie when it first came out in theatres and was incredibly disappointed. I found this strange considering that, at that time, I was the film's target audience. There was so much room for a clever spoof of spies like James Bond, but the whole movie seemed like an insult to spy movies. The film struggles and fails to be funny. At the theatre where I saw it, no one laughed. I suppose the cheap special effects and awful plot are something to laugh at. But it just felt sad.
Rating: 
Summary: Appallingly Weird Rather than Adventurous
Review: After seeing the trailers for this movie, I expected an action-packed, fun children's adventure. I did not expect to find all kinds of truly weird and disgusting characters, a little like Tellytubbies on psychedelic hormones, and devoid of any cuteness to the point of being actually nauseating. (Anyone who in fact dislikes Tellytubbies should imagine something much, much worse.) While the casting was excellent, the props good, and the overall premise exciting, the actual villains of the piece were just not worth watching. With some rewrites this could have been a little less like a rampant horror film made into someone's twisted idea of a children's adventure, but as it is, I can't recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Spykids are awesome!
Review: I find Spykids one very cool and like the way Carmen is always doing handsprings and stuff. I think everybody should see the Spykids movie. Ever since I have seen the Spykids movie I have been a big Spykids fan. All the girls were talking about it a lot and I KNEW I had to go see it. Even my dad likes it... so even parents should go watch Spykids!
Rating:
Summary: An uninspired start to a less inspiring trilogy
Review: This is not a movie I could sit and enjoy with my kids. I thought it was a very promising idea, but one huge mistake ruins the entire idea. They took two ordinary-looking kids and gave them super powers. No they didn't, you say? Well, in the first minutes of the film, the kids go to work out in their own private gym. Suddenly these ordinary kids are leaping and flipping about as if they have donned jet-packs. Their leaping and flipping is accompanied by the obligatory swishing and zooming sound effects. Ick. What should have been a film about a couple of ordinary homely kids working hard and using their guts and determination to save their beautiful, talented spy-parents turns into a contrived special effects extravaganza. We're supposed to suspend belief and buy that these two kids can do extraordinary physical feats just because their parents are spies? Subtleties are so often lost on Hollywood. There are so many movies that do it better. If you want to see kids use their guts and courage to survive adversity (without obvious special effects) try Adventures in Babysitting. Even Home Alone is more believable than the Spy Kids drivel.
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