Who's
In It: Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino, Alexa Vega, Daryl Sabara Who
Directed It: Robert Rodriguez
Year of release: 2002
Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams (2002)
Movie Review Reviewed by: Adam Mast,
Zboneman.com
I've
been a big fan of Robert Rodriguez for quite some time. With movies like the thrifty
El Mariachi (shot for a mere $7000), it's sequel Desperado, and From Dusk 'Til
Dawn (his collaboration with Quentin Tarantino), Rodriguez has proven that you
don't have to spend $100 million on a film for it to look good. Last year, Rodriguez
dazzled me again with the family friendly gem Spy Kids This was a film not so
much for kids, but rather a film that brings out the kid in all of us. I enjoyed
it immensely, and with it's success, a sequel was inevitable.
Spy
Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams, once again finds the Cortez spy family in action.
This time, the adventure involves competing spies (young and old), the Cortez
grandparents and a strange island chalk full of weird creatures (inspired, no
doubt, by the wonderful stop motion creations of Ray Harryhausen).
Like
the first Spy Kids, this sequel is zany and full of creative energy that is both
innovative and visually stunning. And while the message in Spy Kids 2 isn't as
heart-felt as it was in the first film, this is still a story about family and
sticking together.
The
cast really seems to be enjoying themselves. Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara are back
as our young heroes. Vega's character is very much the way she was in the first
film, but Sabara's role is slightly more developed and the young actor seems much
more comfortable this time out. Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino are back as
the fearless parents/spies, while in a new twist, we meet yet an even older generation
of agents in the form of Ricardo Montalban and Holland Taylor (both are terrific).
Matt O'Leary and Emily Osment (Haley Joel's young sister) are a riot as rival
spy kids, shadowing our hero's' every move.
Make
no mistake--Robert Rodriguez is a madman. He not only wrote and directed this
sequel, he also edited the picture and served as a camera operator. The film was
shot digitally, giving a crisp, vibrant image, and once again, Rodriguez has made
a good looking film without spending an obscene amount of money.
While
I really enjoyed this follow up, it lacks the consistency of the original. Spy
Kids 2 was made fairly quickly, and at times it does feel rushed. Still, you can
see Rodriguez's mind at work in nearly every frame of this movie.
This
is certainly one of the best family pictures of the year, and if I'm going to
hang out with a spy, I'd much rather spend an afternoon with Spy Kids or Austin
Powers, than Xander Cage from XXX. On a final note, Spy Kids 3 hits theaters next
summer.
