Cast: Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino, Alexa Vega, Daryl Sabara, Steve Buscemi, Mike Judge, Taylor Momsen, Ricardo Montalban, Matthew O'Leary, Emily Osment, Holland Taylor
Director: Robert Rodriguez
Producers: Robert Rodriguez, Elizabeth Avellan
Screenplay: Robert Rodriguez
Cinematography: Guillermo Navarro
Music: John Debney, Robert Rodriguez
U.S. Distributor: Dimension Films
The kids are back, and they're just as lively and fun in this installment as they were the first time around. Of course, they're a little older (if the series keeps going, it won't be long before it will have to be called Spy Teenagers) and a little wiser, but their thirst for adventure and their penchant for beating the odds hasn't changed. Director Robert Rodriguez has once again caught lightning in a bottle and unleashed it on audiences, blending humor, adventure, and a lot of nifty special effects-enabled gadgets and creatures into a movie that provides 1 1/2 hours of unfettered entertainment for children, grandparents, and everyone in between.
With his tongue planted firmly in his cheek, Rodriguez sets out to lampoon the spy genre while still providing a breezy, fast-paced ride full of bumps and jolts. The film isn't as openly jokey as Austin Powers in Goldmember, yet the overall enjoyment quotient is higher. Spy Kids 2 is a gentler film with a somewhat different agenda, but there are nearly as many laugh-aloud moments, a lot more genuine wit, and only a couple of gross-out instances (one involving vomit and the other, camel dung). The movie has the sensibility of a cartoon, with larger-than-life bad guys, a thoroughly implausible plot, and enough nifty gadgets and vehicles to impress Q.
Once again, our heroes are Carmen Cortez (Alexa Vega) and her younger brother, Juni (Daryl Sabara). They are the children of ace spies Gregorio and Ingrid Cortez (Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino) and the grandchildren of two legendary agents (Ricardo Montalban and Holland Taylor). As the film begins, Carmen and Juni, now junior members of the OSS, are out to save the President's daughter, Alexandra (Taylor Momsen, Little Cindy Lou-Who in the live-action How the Grinch Stole Christmas), who is in danger at an extreme amusement park. Rival spy kids Gary and Gerti Giggles (Matthew O'Leary and Emily - sister of Haley Joel - Osment) arrive in time to complicate the rescue. But this is only a prelude to the real adventure. Soon, all four kids end up on a mysterious island, fighting bizarre creatures while looking for the mysterious Romero (Steve Buscemi) and his dangerous creation, the "Transmooger Device", which can be used to control (or destroy) the world.
Boiled down to its basics, Spy Kids 2 is just good, clean fun. It works as well for kids as it does for adults, due in large part to two things: (1) its refusal to talk down to the audience, and (2) an unflagging pace. There are opportunities for character expansion - Carmen has a "thing" for Gary, Juni develops a crush on the President's daughter, and Gregorio has to deal with insecurities regarding his in-laws and the consideration that his son may be outgrowing him. And, as a mad scientist creator, Romero finds himself asking surprisingly deep philosophical questions like, "Do you think God stays in heaven because he fears what he has created?"
If a film could ever be said to be the product of an individual, Spy Kids 2 is that movie. True, Rodriguez has a talented cast to speak the dialogue and act out the scenes, but seemingly half of the behind-the-camera credits belong to him (including directing, writing, producing, composing, editing, and supervising the special effects). With a budget under $40 million, Rodriguez has created an amazing array of digital visuals. Few are of Star Wars quality (except perhaps Juni's little "friend", Ralph), but an element of the film's charm is that the effects aren't perfectly seamless. That aspect enhances the fantasy quality of the production. Rodriguez was exceedingly ambitious in developing this canvas, and most of his efforts have paid dividends. Spy Kids 2 is a worthy successor to the original, and an enjoyable romp in its own right.
© 2002 James Berardinelli