Starring Antonio Banderas, Carlo Gugino, Alexa Vega, Daryl Sorbara, Cheech Marin,
Mike Judge, Ricardo Montalban, Holland Taylor, Christopher McDonald, Danny Trejo, Tony
Shaloub, Alan Cumming, Steve Buscemi, Bill Paxton, Matt O'Leary, Emily Osment, Taylor Momsen.
Directed and Produced by Robert Rodriguez.
As with most sequels, Spy Kids 2 is louder, bigger and more complex
than the excellent original. This time there are two sets of spy kids - Carmen (Vega)
and Juni (Sorbara) from the original and two rival siblings, Gary and Gerti Giggles
(O'Leary and Osment). And Ingrid's (Gugino) parents (Montalban and Taylor), ex-spies
of course, are along for the ride. Daddy Gregorio is up to lead the OSS Spy agency,
but he is beat out by their rivals' devious father Donnagon (Judge). A new device able
to eliminate all electronic communication, radar and gadgets run on electricity is in
the hands of the President (McDonald), rescued from his neglected daughter Alexandra (Momsen).
This new device is stolen by persons unknown, but it is just the prototype - there is
supposed to be another even bigger device, able to be used to take over the
world. It is on a hidden island run by a shy and just a bit loony scientist (Buscemi),
and both sets of spy kids end up on the island to try to rescue it before it gets
into the hands of the evil bad guys, whomever they might be.
Like the first Spy Kids film, the action revolves around the kids, and the tone
of the film is never particularly threatening - a sense of fun and adventure permeates
throughout, and events and dialogue are done tongue in cheek. Like a mini-me James
Bond flick, there are lots of cool gadgets for the spies to use, just without the
sex and Bond's mean streak. Well not exactly. Carmen has a crush on the arrogant Gary
(she's hoping she can change him) and Juni actually has two potential romantic interests
in Gerti and the president's daughter. The movie is aimed directly at the youthful
audience where the bad guys are just misguided, in need of a encouragement to do the
right thing. Everything will all turn out well as long as one behaves properly. A
little simplistic perhaps, but it is a formula that works because of the style and
strong visual sense of director Rodriguez, and the sense of fun that pervades everthing.
Underneath the light and breezy style are themes of looking for the good in people, and
doing the right thing when the time comes. Loyalty to family members is also emphasized,
and these messages are handled lightly and with subtlety.
The performances are solid throughout. Antonio Banderas again stands out as the suave
spy, adept at humour and not afraid to look silly. Both Vega and Sorbara acquit themselves
well, and Momsen and Osment do a nice job as well. Steve Buscemi, whose range allows
him to move from creepy and twisted (Con Air), to sympathetic and lovable (Ghost
World), brings considerable warmth and humanity, and is quite sympathetic as the
reserved and a little bit crazy scientist. And Bill Paxton does a very funny turn
as a bit twisted huckster who delights in creating carnival rides guaranteed to
produce vomit and frighten the squeamish. Cheech's talents are wasted, and his role
like that of several others from the first film, is brief and cursory.
Spy Kids 2 is consistently entertaining, and while not as fresh and unexpected
as the original film, it is still a family-friendly film light on shmaltz and sentiment,
and heavy on fun. Take the kids, take your loved one, or just go yourself.
 
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