By: debbie lynn elias
Returning to the big screen this week are the world’s best loved, pint-sized spies, Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara as Carmen and Juni Cortez, in “Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams.” Also along for the ride are the senior members of the Cortez spy clan – Antonio Banderas as Gregorio, Carla Cugino as Ingrid, Danny Trejo as Uncle Machete, Cheech Marin as Felix, and as a real treat for filmgoers everywhere, Ricardo Montalban and Holland Taylor make their Spy debut as the Cortez grandparents. These two senior spys add such depth to the film that it can’t just be deemed a “kids movie” anymore.
Director/writer/visual effects supervisor/cinematographer/film editor and composer, Robert Rodriguez, also returns to the helm wearing his any creative hats and using the same formula as last summers’s blockbuster “Spy Kids,” fulfills childhood (and even some adult) fantasies everywhere with bigger, brighter and bolder gimmicks and gadgets, incredible special effects, fun-filled adventure, intelligent script and kids, kids and more kids. After all, children are our future and in today’s film market there is no one who exhibits this belief more than Rodriguez.
As you may recall, when we last met up with Carmen and Juni, they not only rescued their parents with some spy action of their own, but then helped their parents save the world from the evil Alexander Minion and the not-so-evil Fegan Floop. Tony Shalhoub and the incomparable Alan Cumming are also back with us recreating their original roles. This time around, however, it’s Carmen and Juni who set out on assignment, only to have two generations of Cortez’ come after them.
Our film opens in an amusement park created and owned by the ingenius Dinky Winks. Don’t look to Disneyland or Six Flags for any rides like these, however. We’ve got rides that juggle you and rides that place you on long ropes and snap you like a whip, and then there is the new ride designed with such a certainty to make you vomit that you need umbrellas to ward off the, well, you know……. Also present at the park is an opposing group of Spy Kids, Gary and Gerti Giggles played by Matthew O’Leary and Emily Osment (younger sister of Haley Joel and just as talented). Our two sets of Spy Kids soon become engaged in a competition to rescue the bratty, obnoxious daughter of the President of the United States who seemingly finds herself in a precarious situation involving the Juggler ride. Adding a little fuel to the fire, we learn that the Giggles’ dad has planned a takeover of the federal spy agency which the Cortez family serves. Needless to say, although Carmen and Juni save the day and the first daughter, the Giggles kids are given the credit thanks to pop, sparking a rivalry between the families that takes them to the Island of Lost Dreams.
The Island of Lost Dreams, however, is an invisible volcanic island, owned and ruled by a mad scientist named Romero, a villain who once again tinkers with genetics and desires to rule or destroy the world – whichever comes first – and it’s up to our heroes to stop him. Steve Buscemi, perfect in any role that calls for the weird and wondrous, lends his considerable talents to the Spy Kids franchise as Romero. And of course, as part and parcel to any Spy Kids villain, he creates, er, mutates, creatures even more weird and wondrous than himself. Being set on an island also again gives Rodriguez the opportunity to take us under the sea, opening up another world of gadgetry, adventure, sea creatures and danger.
Despite all the gadgetry and gimmickry (Transmookers, spybugs, spycopters, spyglasses, flying wheelchairs) the real stars of this movie are Vega and Sabara. These two are beyond likeable and believable with their sibling rivalry, intelligent and honest innocence, yet confidence and control beyond their years. Like any brother and sister combo, they can taunt, tease and torment with the best of them, but when push comes to shove, they are always there for each other. Vega gives another solid performance as Carmen while Sabara has grown and gained some confidence he previously lacked, now coming across as a pint-sized Danny Bonaduce.
But above all the technical excellence and excitement, Rodriguez has two key elements that help put “Spy Kids 2″ at the top of the heap. First, he returns with this sequel as does the entire cast from “Spy Kids” (nice to finally see actors putting quality work before the almighty dollar – although everyone must know this is going to be a gold-mine franchise) and second, he gives us another fine story about family and the trials and tribulations that go with it – parents not wanting to let go of their children – kids wanting to be independent and strike out on their own – parents wanting to protect – and of course, parents wanting to meddle. And Rodriguez plays no generational favorites.
Move over 007 – there are new kids in town – the Spy Kids – and they’re here for the long haul. “Spy Kids 2: The Lost Island of Dreams” – The spy world is not just for adults anymore.
