Main Cast: Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino, Alexa Vega, Daryl Sabara, Alan Cumming
Release Year: 2001
Country: US
Run Time: 88 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
In this reteaming of actor Antonio Banderas and director Robert Rodriguez -- their first film together since the 1995 feature Desperado -- Banderas plays Gregorio; he and devoted partner Ingrid (Carla Gugino), comprise the greatest pair of secret agents working. Both are masters of disguise and have the ability to prevent wars, but eventually they want to settle down and begin raising a family. Nine years later, after retiring and giving up the lives of super-spies, Gregorio and Ingrid find themselves at the call of duty again when techno-genius Fegan Floop (Alan Cumming) and his insidious, ruthless sidekick Minion (Tony Shalhoub) have plans for world destruction. The only hope for Gregorio and Ingrid are their children, Carmen (Alexa Vega) and Juni (Daryl Sabara), who are called upon to save their missing parents, eventually learning their former identities. The film also features Cheech Marin, Robert Patrick, and Danny Trejo. In the summer of 2001, five months after Spy Kids had become a major box office success, an expanded edition was released, featuring several minutes of footage not used in the film's original cuts (including special effects sequences that couldn't be completed within the film's original budget). ~ Jason Clark, All Movie Guide
Review
Spy Kids is a film made by people who love both movies and families. Director Robert Rodriguez fills the screen with funny and fantastic images like bad guys made out of thumbs (who don't catch very well because they are. . .well. . .all thumbs), kidnapped good guys whose heads have been formed into shapes that recall Dick Tracy villains, and a car that turns instantly into an underwater ship. Rodriguez also utilizes his editing skills to create action scenes that are as entertaining (though far less violent) than his work in El Mariachi and Desperado. The visual largess of the picture does not overwhelm the solid human story at the center of the film. Carmen and Juni, who spend much time teasing each other, learn that they must believe in themselves and each other. Sure, that sounds like a gooey moral, but Rodriguez doesn't hammer it home. He knows that the kids in the audience will be intelligent enough to get it all on their own. Near the end of the picture, Juni is told, "You were pure of heart and pure of mind." The same can be said for Spy Kids, a funny and sweet family film that entertains without dumbing itself down for either children or parents. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
Tony Shalhoub - Minion; Teri Hatcher - Ms. Gradenko; Cheech Marin - Uncle Felix; Robert Patrick - Mr. Lisp; Danny Trejo - Uncle Machete; Tom Savini; Louis Black - Financier; Dick Clark - Financier; George Clooney - Devlin; Richard Linklater - Cool Spy; Guillermo Navarro - Pastor; Johnny Reno - Agent Johnny; Mike Judge - Donnagon/Donnamight; Ermahn Ospina - Cab Driver; Evan Sabba - "Intruder" Spy Kid; Trant Batey - FoOglie #3/Too Too; Andy W. Bossley - Brat; Jeff Dashnaw - Brat's Dad; Rachel Duhame - President's Robot Daughter; Steve Havens - Financier; Houston Hooker - Lisp's Robot Son; Angela Lanza - Newscaster; Emilio Navarro Mackissack - Excited Kid at Playground; Charles Ramirez-Berg - Financier; Becca Rodriguez - Spy Bridesmaid; Roberto Santibanez - Financier; Shannon Shea - FoOglie #1/Flower; Kara Slack - Carmen's Friend; Julio Villarreal - Spy Driver; Patricia Vonne - Spy Bridesmaid; Norman Cabrera - Fooglie #2/Tall & Skinny
Credit
Ed Vega - Art Director, Sully Sullivan - Art Director, Mashi Akitama - Animator, Jean-Yves Audouard - Animator, Romain Bayle - Animator, Marc Bourbonnais - Animator, Joseph Kasparian - Animator, Mathieu Lalonde - Animator, Jonathan Paquin - Animator, Ken Steel - Animator, Gaetan Thiffault - Animator, Marco Tremblay - Animator, Olivier Turcotte - Animator, Yanick Wilisky - Animator, Patrushkha Mierzwa - Boom Operator, Mary Vernieu - Casting, Jo Edna Boldin - Casting, Anne McCarthy - Casting, Dan Sperry - Consultant/advisor, Tamee Smith-Zimmerman - Co-producer, Susan Bertram - Costume Designer, Deborah Everton - Costume Designer, Senna Shanti - Costume Designer, Douglas Aarniokoski - First Assistant Director, Linda Brachman - First Assistant Director, Robert Rodriguez - Director, Robert Rodriguez - Editor, Bob Weinstein - Executive Producer, Harvey Weinstein - Executive Producer, Cary Granat - Executive Producer, Mary Stuart Welch - Executive Producer, Thomas Barron - Executive Producer, Kristen Leigh Branan - Executive Producer, Caito Martins - Location Manager, Eric A. Williams - Location Manager, Bill Scott - Line Producer, Los Lobos - Composer (Music Score), John Debney - Composer (Music Score), Danny Elfman - Composer (Music Score), Robert Rodriguez - Composer (Music Score), Gavin Greenaway - Composer (Music Score), Heitor Pereira - Composer (Music Score), Villa Lobos - Composer (Music Score), Gregory Nicotero - Makeup Special Effects, Howard Berger - Makeup Special Effects, Nicotero Kurtzman & Berger EFX Group - Makeup Special Effects, Robert Kurtzman - Makeup Special Effects, Cary White - Production Designer, Guillermo Navarro - Cinematographer, Kamar Bitar - Production Manager, Luke Scully - Production Manager, Robert Rodriguez - Producer, Elizabeth Avellan - Producer, Mark Ulano - Production Sound, Jeanette Scott - Set Designer, Ronn Basquette - Set Designer, Danny Nelson - Special Effects, Eric Allard - Special Effects, Brian T. McCarty - Special Effects, Robert P. Clot - Special Effects, Dan Gaspar - Special Effects, Geoff Martin - Special Effects, Wes Mattox - Special Effects, James W. McCormick - Special Effects, James Mize - Special Effects, Frank W. Tarantino - Special Effects, Elaine K. Thompson - Special Effects, Mark Ulano - Sound/Sound Designer, Harry Cohen - Sound/Sound Designer, Troy Brown - Stunts, Troy M. Gilbert - Stunts, John Meier - Stunts, Erik Rondell - Stunts, James M. Halty - Stunts, Buddy Joe Hooker - Stunts, Tommy Huff - Stunts, Steve M. Davidson - Stunts, Chuck Tamburro - Stunts, Rachel Duhame - Stunts, Houston Hooker - Stunts, Jimmy N. Roberts - Stunts, Robin Bonaccorsi - Stunts, Jeffrey Schwan - Stunts, Cinda-Lin James - Stunts, Troy Robinson - Stunts, Nicole Bilski - Stunts, Steve Bland - Stunts, Katie Boggs - Stunts, Tony Boggs - Stunts, Doc Charbonneau - Stunts, Jake Dashnaw - Stunts, Dino Frenkiel - Stunts, Lucinda Hinton - Stunts, Kanan Hooker - Stunts, Brandon Lott - Stunts, Shawn Odum - Stunts, Julian Salas-Porras - Stunts, Turner Vickery - Stunts, Jeff Dashnaw - Stunts Coordinator, Gregory Nicotero - Supervisor/Manager, Howard Berger - Supervisor/Manager, Bill Scott - Unit Production Manager, Robert Rodriguez - Screenwriter, Robert Rodriguez - Visual Effects Supervisor, Daniel Leduc - Visual Effects Supervisor, Brad Kuehn - Visual Effects Supervisor, Dion Hatch - Visual Effects Supervisor, Marc Kolbe - Visual Effects Supervisor, Chris Olivia - Visual Effects Supervisor, Chiz Hasegawa - Executive in Charge of Production, Sandra Condito - Unit Publicist, Roberto "Tito" Blasini - First Assistant Camera, Jimmy Lindsey - First Assistant Camera, David Lee - Gaffer, Jon H. Lewis - Gaffer, Bobby Bastarache - Grip, Mary Nelson - Grip, Kurt A Kornemann - Grip, Rick Stribling - Key Grip, Richard J. Ball, Jr. - Key Grip, Stephanie Lowry - Music Editor, Walter Garcia - Production Coordinator, Cynthia Streit - Production Coordinator, Abril Abuhadba Toledo - Production Coordinator, Cristian Marzolo - Production Supervisor, Caylah Eddleblute - Properties Master, Steve "Q" Joyner - Properties Master, Michael Semanick - Re-Recording Mixer, Gina Grande - Script Supervisor, Douglas Aarniokoski - Second Assistant Director, Brian Bettwy - Second Assistant Director, Brian Steward - Second Assistant Director, Tony Lamberti - Sound Effects Director, R. Dutch Hill - Sound Effects Director, John McLeod - Special Effects Coordinator, David McGill - Steadicam Operator, Rico Torres - Still Photographer, Aladino V. Debert - Supervising Animator, Philippe Theroux - Supervising Animator, Greg Hedgepath - Supervising Sound Editor, Nick Caloyianis - Underwater Photography, LeAnn Radeka - Costume/Wardrobe, Mark Choi - ADR Editor, Debbie Haber - Art Department Assistant, Shelley Tanner - Assistant Hair, Mateo Barnstone - Assistant Location Manager, Leighton Chapman - Assistant Location Manager, Jonathan R. Hennessey - Assistant Location Manager, Don Malot - Assistant Makeup, Daniel Salas-Porras - Assistant Production Coordinator, Victor Ennis - Assistant Sound Editor, Nathan Hathaway - Best Boy Electric, Tim Soronen - Best Boy Grip, Jason Ray Jurica - Best Boy Grip, Rigney Sackley - Camera Loader, Brian Orr - Casting Assistant, Helen Griffiths - Casting Associate, Alex Newman - Casting Associate, Freddy Luis - Casting Associate, David Wilt - Construction Coordinator, Julie Feiner - Dialogue Editor, Edmund J. Lachman - Dialogue Editor, Mike Sheeren - Dolly Grip, Paul Kloss - Electrician, Buzzy Burwell - Electrician, Edison Jackson - Electrician, Dany Navarrette - Electrician, Kevin Sims - Electrician, Monica Hoenig Torok - Electrician, Scott Conn - Electrician, Robert Janecka - Electrician, Tim Travis - Electrician, Beth Sepko - Extra Casting, Brian Bruskrud - First Assistant Accountant, Cynthia Morris - First Assistant Editor, James Moriana - Foley Artist, Jeffrey Wilhoit - Foley Artist, Mark Gordon - Foley Editor, Phil Hess - Foley Editor, Wallace R. Symns - Greensman, Anna Abbey - Key Costumer, Troy Breeding - Key Hairstylist, Ermahn Ospina - Key Make-up, Shane Patrick - Leadman, Elaine K. Thompson - Post Production Accountant, Steve Beeson - Production Accountant, Jeri Lowe Woodward - Scenic Artist, Sandy Collister - Second Assistant Accountant, Timothy James Kane - Second Assistant Camera, Theda Cunningham - Second Assistant Camera, Wlisa Cohen - Second Assistant Editor, Philip Hardage - Second Second Assistant Director, Melissa D. Forney - Second Unit Makeup, Tom Christopher - Set Dresser, Darren Patnode - Set Dresser, Bart Brown - Set Dresser, David S. Hack - Set Dresser, Steve Sawhill - Set Dresser, Christopher Stull - Set Dresser, Tod Campbell - Set Production Assistant, Sara Mayer - Set Production Assistant, Ruhi Zandra Quinn - Set Production Assistant, Romy Stevenson - Set Production Assistant, Marc Baird - Storyboard Artist, Jeanette Scott - Set Decorator, Image G - Motion Control Camera, Nelson-Duerrstein - Negative Cutter, Roger Basquette - Video Assist, Pacific Title - Title Design, Alex Hepburn - Assistant Avid Editor, Meghan L. Noble - Assistant Avid Editor, Benjamin Williams - Assistant Visual Effects Editor, Simeon Hunter - Assistant Visual Effects Editor, Gary Pawlowski - Mold Department, Al Tuskes - Mold Department, Brian Rae - Mold Department, David Perteet - Mold Department, Gregory Nicotero - Puppeteer, Michael McCarty - Puppeteer, Connie Cadwell - Puppeteer, Gino Crognale - Puppeteer, Jake Garber - Puppeteer, Beth Hathaway - Puppeteer, Luke Khanlian - Puppeteer, Jake McKinnon - Puppeteer, Shannon Shea - Puppeteer, Mike Smithson - Puppeteer
Spy Kids is the first film of the Spy Kids trilogy. It is directed and written by Robert Rodriguez. It stars Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara and was released in 2001. Rodriguez also produced with Elizabeth Avellan and Guillermo Navarro and was the editor of the film. The film was released in United States theaters on March 30, 2001 and on VHS and DVD on September 28, 2001.
Carmen and Juni Cortez live with their parents, Ingrid and Gregorio, who they believe are boring, unaware that their parents are actually semi-retired international spies, working for an organization called the OSS. Originally, Ingrid and Gregorio were enemies until they fell in love and got married. They retired to some degree when they had their children. Juni lacks self-esteem and watches a children's television show named "Floop's Flooglies", presented by a man named Fegan Floop. Gregorio shows dislike and later suspicions towards the show when several fellow spies go missing. Ingrid and Gregorio decide to investigate and leave their children in the care of Uncle Felix Gumm, although he is not actually their uncle, rather a family guardian. Ingrid and Gregorio are captured by Floop's men.
In Floop's island castle, the entertainer is reluctantly assisting a businessman named Mr. Lisp in creating an army of superstrong robots, using the children of world leaders as a disguise, to conquer the world. The robots were constructed by Floop's servant Alexander Minion. An item named the Third Brain is required to power the robots, or at least give them the ability to speak and think. Ingrid and Gregorio were brought in, due to Gregorio being one of the scientists who created the Third Brain and hid it, although he refuses to give the hiding place. Floop's minions invade the Cortez home, although Carmen and Juni escape whilst Felix is captured, but not before he tells the children the truth about their parents. The children flee to a safe house where they decide to become spies, until Ms. Gradenko, a fellow spy, arrives to help them. It is revealed that Third Brain is hidden in the house and that Gradenko is in allegiance with Lisp. The children escape but soon encounter robotic clones of themselves who steal the Third Brain and deliver it to Minion, who takes command of the robots and imprisons Floop.
Carmen and Juni locate Gregorio's estranged brother Machete, an inventor, who harbors bitter feelings against his brother and refuses to help them. They steal a map of Floop's castle and a spyplane and head off on their own. The two make it to the castle and search for their parents. Juni finds Floop and frees him, convincing him to help them and explaining what was missing from his TV show, children. Carmen, Juni and Floop free Ingrid and Gregorio and then confront Minion, trapping him in a machine that creates the characters on Floop's show (who are actually the missing agents). Minion deliberately starts the machine but escapes before his mind becomes mush, only altering his appearance with three extra heads. The spies confront Minion, Lisp and Gradenko and are attacked by their 500-man army of child robots. Machete arrives to help, but Floop rewrites the children's minds to make them act like children, saving the Cortez family and causing the children to play with the villains, tossing them around in the air. Gregorio and Machete reform their brotherly relationship, and Floop redesigns his show with Minion and the robotic Carmen and Juni as his new characters. The leader of the OSS, Devlin, offers the Cortez children jobs as spies, to which Carmen responds that the spywork is easy, whilst keeping their Cortez family together is the hardest mission of all. She demands that they be allowed to work together as a family.
The film score is written by John Debney and Danny Elfman and also Grayson Lawrence, with contributions from a variety of others, including director Robert Rodriguez and Marcel Rodriguez. Among Elfman's contributions is "Floop's Song (Cruel World)", which is performed by Alan Cumming. Los Lobos covers the Tito Puente song, "Oye Como Va" (adapted as "Oye Como Spy" by David Garza and Robert Rodriguez). The song was nominated for "outstanding song in a motion picture soundtrack" at the 2002 ALMA Awards. The closing theme, "Spy Kids (Save the World)", is performed by the Los Angeles indie pop band, Fonda.
The film received very positive reviews when it was released. It received 93% percent of positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.
A special edition with deleted scenes was released to theaters on August 8, 2001. There were plans to release the special edition to DVD but it never materialized, despite the fact that a director's commentary and interviews were already recorded for it.[1]
