Detectives in Diapers. Spy Kids 2 = 2.5 stars

[bnorthup]

Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams (PG)
At the Gaslight

Dad: 2.5 stars
Daughter: 2.5 stars

Detectives in diapers save the world

By Brent and Katherine Northup

OK. I’ll be the first to admit that our timing on this review is awful. We are reviewing “Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams” after summer ends and school starts.

But look at it this way: It’s a three-day weekend and “Spy Kids 2” is still a respectable choice for families in a local theater. Of course, the obvious truth is that families have probably already seen it and so the review has more the quality of an historical document, rather than breaking news. Undeterred by all these trifles, we continue…

From dad’s view, “Spy Kids 2” was a classy, slick family film which was short on heart and originality. But I loved Alexa Vega, who plays Carmen the older sister spy. She is portrayed as a computer whiz who tolerates her younger brother who would prefer to pick his nose. It’s a refreshing gender switch. Overall, dad applauds the movie as clean, entertaining family fare, which poses no Oscar threat to anyone.

Daughter Kat, 15, is the more crucial critic on such films, of course. So I’ll turn the cyber quill pen over to her. Shockingly, our views were almost identical.

“Spy Kids 2” was definitely not my first choice of movies to see. I regretted ever seeing the first one and was sure that this one would make me gag even more. I was wrong.

“The main characters were much more mature than they were in the first movie. The story of little kids saving the world is much more believable when the spies are not so little.

The story plot of “Spy Kids 2” wasn’t so very complicated, but amusing nonetheless. The two kids, Carmen and Juni Cortez are sent on a mission to save the President’s daughter who ends up on a hidden island.

“The rescue mission leads to a twisted race to solve a case that involves a shielding device that could destroy the world. Daddy-spy, mommy-spy and gramma and grampa-spy end up involved in the crazy chase.

“The whole thing winds up on an island that has the two things every spy is looking for - monsters and bad guys.

“My favorite character was the Spider-Monkey. I generally don’t like spiders, but this one wasn’t so bad. The Spider Monkey changes character from a fiend to a friend and helps Juni. I liked that.

“I would recommend this movie to kids ages 6 and up. It had me, a jaded 15 year-old, laughing, but it would really be more enjoyed by the younger audience. There is a small bit of swearing, but it’s nothing we kids haven’t either heard or said.

“I liked this movie even though I went in expecting to see nothing but poop. It’s very hard to one-up the first movie, but “Spy Kids 2” did it. For me it was a pleasant surprise.”


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