Spy Kids

Rating:
Summary: offers flash but little else
Review: ** 1/2 I can certainly understand why "Spy Kids" has been such an enormous hit with children. What is childhood fantasy, after all, but an attempt by essentially powerless youngsters to bring a little order to their world, to show themselves and the adults around them that they too are good for something - even if it's only saving the world from the forces of evil before it's time to come in to face chores, homework and bedtime. Of course, children merely mimic the fantasies adults themselves indulge in - utilizing the same set of conventions that serve as the template for virtually all action/adventure films that have featured heroes on the order of James Bond, Rambo, and Arnold Schwarzenegger in his various fictional guises. In many ways, the films featuring those characters demonstrate that many of us have still not outgrown the simplistic view of the world that fuels our earliest fantasies. By making the heroes of this film specifically children, "Spy Kids" fulfills that need children have to feel that they too can be an active part of a power-conferring fantasy rather than just the passive observers they usually end up being in a real world controlled by adult concepts and adult rules.

Fair enough. What I don't understand, though, is why adults seem to be so enamored of "Spy Kids," which, for all its hullabaloo and hubbub, is really little more than a juvenile version of the same spy spoof nonsense that has been a staple of filmmaking since the 1960's (nicely resurrected by the "Austin Powers" films a few years back). Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino star as Gregorio and Ingrid Cortez, two dashing former spies who have traded in the exciting world of field espionage for less glamorous "desk jobs" in the spy organization so that they can raise their two children, Carmen and Juni, in a more normal, less hectic and less dangerous environment. Carmen and Juni, unaware of their parents' past, look upon them as two hopelessly nerdy representatives of an "uncool" older generation. When Gregorio and Ingrid decide, after nine years out of commission, to get back into the secret agent business, they discover that some of their espionage skills have become a little rusty and they are instantly caught and imprisoned by a mad children's show producer bent on creating a race of indestructible children robots. When Carmen and Juni discover the truth of their parents' identities and predicament, the two youngsters set off on a mission to singlehandedly rescue them from a fate worse than death.

One of the problems with "Spy Kids" is that it seems to mistake frenetic activity for humor and wit. Through long stretches of the film, we are being hurtled through space in one imaginary vehicle after another as the children search desperately for their kidnapped parents. There is, moreover, an awful lot of frantic running around by the various characters, but the result is, oddly, not excitement but rather tedium. Because writer/director Robert Rodriguez has failed to provide any truly clever dialogue, he has been forced to rely far too heavily on the special effects to carry the day. The result is that we are never particularly captivated by the antics either of the children or of the parents, who, I hasten to note, actually spend most of their time off screen. When they are on screen, they often come across as arch, self conscious and cutesy, rather than smooth, suave and witty. Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara, as the two children, are unremarkable but relatively likable screen presences. At least they are not as cloying as their parents.

The art director, set decorator and production designer deserve mention for their superb work in creating a never-never land world caught somewhere between reality and fantasy, perfectly suitable for a film built on childhood imaginings. It's too bad that the screenplay fails to consistently match that level of creativity. Stand by for the inevitable sequel!

Rating:
Summary: Dumb and Dumber
Review: This has to be one of the worst kids movie I've seen in years. While it starts out with a great premise (kids getting to be spies in order to save their parents), it quickly degenerates into a silly fantasy plot that gets more and more painful to watch. If you've seen the trailer, you've seen everything worth watching.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome Family Flick
Review: Great film for the entire family. It was great to see Antonio Banderas in a pseudo comedic role. Very enjoyable. I even watch it when the kids aren't home!

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining piece of fluff...
Review: My kids think this is REALLY COOL. It has some laughs, some ingenuity to the plot and production, but otherwise is a no-brainer. One for family movie time, but not much else...

Rating:
Summary: I don't believe I liked this Movie
Review: For someone who listens to Death Metal and Rap, and hates almost every Kiddy movie put out there, I actually liked this one.

I rented 2 movies with little sisters and this was actually interesting enough to keep me awake, I thought one of the SpyKids said something bad but it turned out to be "Holy Shiitake Mushroom", but it was towards the end and I was getting tired.

So, it was a good movie, but not as good as part 2 of our double feature, JOE DIRT.

Rating:
Summary: Action Packed!
Review: Recently, there has been a trend in family films: they're getting better. The atrocity of "See Spot Run" aside, the last few years have seen more good PG-or-under-rated fare than just the standard Disney animation. See, for instance, the flawless "Chicken Run," "Princess Diaries," "Road to El Dorado," "The Prince of Egypt," and "Shrek" and you will be able to tell what I am talking about. Now you can add "Spy Kids" to that list.

This film is a head-spinning whirl of invention and brilliance, marred only occasionally by predictability or a poop joke. It must have been a sheer joy to make, because all on-screen appear to be having loads of fun. It's wonderful to see even the normally stone-faced Robert Patrick (the T-1000 in "Terminator 2," Agent Doggit in "The X-Files) having to hold back a grin as a corporate villain. Fortunately for us, this all passes along to the audience. Everyone, and not just the teeny-boppers. With bright, intelligent production design (was that really a yellow submarine I saw?), a light sense of humor, and wonderful pacing, this evokes a grin from even the most concerned parents.

Not that this is all fluff. There is a rare degree of intelligence here, especially for a kid's movie. At one point, a young Hispanic child shouts something, and instead of going the easy route and doing it in English, writer/director Robert Rodriguez uses Spanish, with a subtitle telling us what was said. Not only there, but nearly all the major characters are written with sharp observation. The parents are intelligent, willful, and when they go back into the biz' after retirement, it's because *they* want to, not because the plot does. Even Floop, the villain bent on world-domination, is given sufficient motivation: he's lonely and insecure, and wants to feel appreciated. (Most of this becomes apparent through the brilliant perfomance of Alan Cummings.) And the children...

The two kids are, without a doubt, the center of this movie, and well to do so. As written, they are real siblings, hating and loving each other at the same time. They know each other's weaknesses, they know how to push each other's buttons, but at the same time, they obviously care about each other. This is one tight-knit family. Hollywood needs more like them.

This is also not to say the movie is perfect. It does stray into poop jokes, though only twice, and there is also a predictable plot element involving an estranged brother. However by the time it reaches this point, it has more than enough credit going for us to forgive it.

Before the movie began, there were trailers for nearly all the upcoming family and children's films this summer. Some looked good, some looked mediocre. However, if more are like this, it will be a good year. Kids, do your parents a favor: take them to buy "Spy Kids"

Rating:
Summary: A good movie!
Review: If there is one thing that the entertainment world does NOT need is another "kiddy" movie...that has a lot of "appropriate" gross out jokes and corny dialouge. Fortunately, 'Spy Kids' escaped the norm...and actually brought a new genre to the Kids Entertainment world..."Comedy, Action, Romance AND kiddy movie" genre. This movie wasn't catering so much to the younger audience that the adults would go "hmph" at the jokes...but didn't have double meanings in the humor. The jokes were genuinely funny...the action was genuinely exciting and the characters were lovable, and loathable. The bad guys were bad (and at times amusing) and the good guys were lovable and funny. The movie brought out all relationships from brothers, husband/wife, siblings, spy/badguy, traitor/good guy, and others! You have to enjoy this movie. Sit down one night and watch it...I promise you will enjoy it~!!

Rating:
Summary: A Movie for the Whole Family
Review: This movie has plenty to offer all age groups and little that would be objectionable to children.

Its premise is simple. Two parents, retired for 9 years from the spy business, are called back into action. The real hero and heroine, though, are their children. While Antonio Banderas has top billing, the two youths carry the movie. It moves at a Star Wars-like pace and at times seems to spoof James Bond movies. The action is not violent and the movie reminds the audience of the importance of family values.

If you do not try to take this movie too seriously, you will enjoy the performances and special effects. Spy Kids 2 is already in the works for 2002.

Rating:
Summary: Spy Kids
Review: This movie was fantastic. I was not expecting much from this movie and was pleasantly surprised. The whole family loved it.

Rating:
Summary: Spy Kids is a ride no matter what age the viewers are
Review: A fun family film that actually teaches Family values.I cannot wait for Spy Kids 2 to come out.

As a big Antonio Banderas fan i was pleasantly surprised with a stellar cast