The "Kids" Are Alright
To tell you the truth, "Spy Kids" was not what I had originally intended to review. I actually bought a ticket to see a more sophisticated spy thriller called "The Tailor of Panama." There were still about 15 minutes before that film was to begin, so I decided to sneak into an adjacent theatre to kill some time. I didn't expect to stay too long because the idea of watching a pre-teen brother and sister team lurch their way through a mission to save the world seemed like an agonizing idea. Surprisingly, the first 15 minutes established a fair amount of pace and showed the promise of entertainment and imagination. And before I knew it, I had actually stayed and watched the whole movie. Thinking back, I'm glad that I did.
It certainly wasn't the acting that fueled this story. Since the target audience consists primarily of pre-teens, this film feels more like a revved up bedtime story with cartoonish characters rather than a polished thriller. After all, the heroes are a 12-year-old girl named Carmen (Alexa Vega) and her younger brother Juni (Daryl Sabara). Both possess a spunky likableness without the saccharine demeanor of that kid from the "Home Alone" films.
Meanwhile, the villain, Fegan Floop (Alan Cummings), is a popular children's television show host. He resides in a magnificent palace whose interior seems to be lifted from the blueprints of Willie Wonka's Chocolate Factory. There, he carries out his diabolical plan and controls his army of clumsy minions who are literally all thumbs. But no matter what you think of pre-teen spies and fanciful villains, you'll find this overall movie watching experience enjoyable.
Gregorio (Antonio Banderas) and Ingrid (Carla Gugino) Cortez are former super-secret agents. Now wed, they have retired to raise their children, Carmen and Juni. They have never told their children about their past, hoping to put that life behind them. But they are called back into action when fellow operatives start disappearing and Fegan Floop and his minions are…uh…fingered. But years of inactivity result in their quick capture. With their parents now prisoners, it's up to Carmen and Juni to save them and the world.
For much of the movie, its pretty straightforward as the kids use is a bevy of wildly inventive gizmos to make their way towards Floop's stronghold while dodging his various henchman. Yet the film is unexpectedly flashy in its use of quick edits, giving this James Bond-for-kids film grown-up hipness. There are many amusing moments as well, such as the inevitable bickering between the siblings and the general state of ineptness of Floop's minions. It also exhibited a continued spirit of imagination, featuring special effects that made this film seem more expensive than its reported price tag of $35 million.
"Spy Kids" is a fine family film. It not only provides 90 minutes of entertainment, but it also effectively forwards the notion of family, teamwork, brotherhood, and the importance of children. Like Gregorio and Ingrid who worked hard to successfully balance their family life with their lives as agents, the film also works hard to find the right balance between an easy-to-digest film for kids and an entertaining film for adults. This mission is adequately accomplished. "Spy Kids" nicely combines fantasy and fluff with several laughs and several valuable lessons.
Grade: B S: 1 out of 3 L: 0 out of 3 V: 1 out of 3
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