Themes: Heroic Mission, Race Against Time, Daring Rescues
Main Cast: Eddie Murphy, Owen Wilson, Famke Janssen, Malcolm McDowell, Gary Cole
Release Year: 2002
Country: US
Run Time: 97 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
Yet another classic television series from the 1960s gets a big-screen update in this action-comedy inspired by the Bill Cosby/Robert Culp vehicle I Spy. Alex Scott (Owen Wilson) is a federal intelligence agent who has been assigned to find a particularly expensive and valuable weapon which has gone missing: a special stealth fighter jet which can not only hide from radar, but also turn invisible to the human eye. Scott learns a rogue agent has sold the jet to Gundars (Malcolm McDowell), a powerful and unscrupulous underground arms dealer. After blowing his opportunity to catch Gundars in the act, Scott formulates a Plan B -- it seems Gundars is a rabid boxing fan, so in order to get inside his organization, Scott recruits Kelly Robinson (Eddie Murphy), a longtime middleweight champion whose ego nearly exceeds his talent in the ring. Robinson is excited by the prospect of a life of espionage, but Scott and Robinson's personalities are like oil and water, and matters are hardly helped by the efforts of less-than-helpful fellow agents Rachel (Famke Janssen) and Carlos (Gary Cole). This adaptation of I Spy was directed by a woman who starred in a memorable television series herself, former Hill Street Blues regular Betty Thomas, who has gone on to a successful career behind the camera. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Review
If you're looking for a movie that bears a strong resemblance to the old TV show, an original comedy that offers a clever plot and witty dialogue, or a tightly constructed spy film that provides genuine thrills while also tickling your funny bone, then you've come to the wrong place. Unfortunately, this film doesn't offer much except the rapport between Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson. The action sequences are pedestrian and generally quite boring, the hackneyed plot is flimsy even by action-comedy standards (although some viewers may enjoy spotting the continuity errors), Famke Janssen and Malcolm McDowell are wasted in their respective roles, and the movie doesn't even offer its fair share of good one liners. Nonetheless, the banter between Murphy and Wilson, who don't play characters so much as variations on their comedic personae, is entertaining. The two actors seem to enjoy feeding off each other and provide most of the film's energy. It's not enough to make this a good film, but it may be enough if you're just looking for an undemanding popcorn movie that's worth an occasional chuckle. ~ Todd Kristel, All Movie Guide
