I Spy
Directed by Betty Thomas
- action
- adventure
- comedy
- thriller
The story
When the Switchblade, the most sophisticated prototype stealth fighter created yet, is stolen from the U.S. government, one of the United States' top spies, Alex Scott, is called to action. What he doesn't expect is to get teamed up with a cocky civilian, World Class Boxing Champion Kelly Robinson, on a dangerous top secret espionage mission. Their assignment: using equal parts skill and humor, catch Arnold Gundars, one of the world's most successful arms dealers.
What it’s like
Bright, glossy studio-comedy surfaces with saturated daylight, sun-warmed European streets, and bustling markets full of primary colour, all shot in the easy, flat-lit style of early-2000s Hollywood. The camera stays busy and conventional: quick cuts in chases, wide establishing shots of Budapest rooftops and Mediterranean-style coastline, and plenty of close two-shots built for banter. The score is a buoyant mix of brassy action cues and loose pop-rock, and the sound design leans on punchy gunfire, car horns and slapstick thuds. Vibe: breezy, knockabout, summer-holiday fun. It suits a lazy Saturday afternoon, a background watch while folding laundry, or a light evening with friends who want something undemanding. Pacing is brisk and rhythm comes from the verbal sparring between two mismatched men, a cocky boxer and a wry spy, who gradually grow to respect each other. Intensity is moderate: a steady stream of cartoonish action, brief shootouts and fistfights with little blood, some mild crude jokes and innuendo, and no real cruelty or dwelling on violence. It is for viewers who want a playful buddy comedy with mild action and no heaviness.
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