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Full Review
Although not as terrific as the original, writer-director Robert Rodriguez’s sequel “Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams” (Dimension) is nonetheless an enjoyable moviegoing experience.As with the first one, Rodriguez has laced his fantasy adventure with a lesson on the importance of sticking by one’s family, although this time around it is not as obvious. He has also inserted a message about relying on one’s smarts instead of high-tech gadgetry to solve a problem. This seems most appropriate during a time when kids depend on video games and electronic toys to fuel their imaginations during play time. A few mildly crude expressions have crept into the film this time around, although nowhere near what is seen and heard nowadays in some films aimed at the younger set. The tone of the film is also less innocent with talk of genetic experimentation and “hacking” into a computer system, which may send a message that doing a wrong thing for a greater good is acceptable. However, wholesome sentiments are still the main focus of “Spy Kids 2.”
Rodriguez and his designers have cranked out even more gadgets and gimmicks in a story that revolves around a mysterious island that renders electronic contraptions useless, a stolen government device called a “transmooker,” and rogue kid agents who present some fierce competition to the film’s pre-teen hero spies, Carmen and Juni Cortez (Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara). However, all the imaginative apparatus and zippy adventures overshadow a story which is already on the skimpy side and a bit self-conscious.
Carmen and her brother Juni are now official Secret Service agents working for the children’s division of the government spy offices. They finagle their way onto an important assignment to save the world by recovering the stolen transmooker device that has been traced to a spooky island where eccentric scientist Romero (Steve Buscemi) lives. The island is populated with such odd creatures as a spork (half pig, half stork) and a catfish (a four-legged feline with the head of a goldfish), which Romero created by cross-breeding a variety of animals. However, with his genetic experiments running amok, Romero lives in hiding, afraid of his handiwork.
As Carmen and Juni try to locate the transmooker, without the help of their spy gadgets which are worthless in the island’s strange energy force, they must fight off these weird critters and compete with Gary and Gertie Giggles (Matt O’Leary and Emily Osment), another brother-sister spy duo out to find the device first and capture all the glory.
Ultimately, what Carmen and Juni discover is that saving the world takes the whole family. In fact, the entire Cortez family gets involved, dad Gregorio (Antonio Banderas), mom Ingrid (Carla Gugino) and even Grandfather (Ricardo Montalban) and Grandmother (Holland Taylor).
Rodriguez squeezes out a few laughs as Gregorio and his in-laws bicker about the best way to save the children. The opening sequence is also quite funny as Carmen and Juni are called upon to save the president’s daughter (Taylor Momsen) when she is trapped on an amusement park ride. Bill Paxton plays Dinky Winks, the owner of the Troublemaker theme park with such outrageous rides as “The Vomiter” and “The Juggler.” Paxton hams it up well, decked out in a wacky cowboy hat and suede jacket. Alan Cumming and Tony Shalhoubmake a diverting cameo appearance reviving their characters from the original movie, the jolly Fegan Floopand the four-headed Alexander Minion.
There is, however, one line in the film that is a bit baffling. Discussing how fearful he’s become of the creatures he has created, oddball scientist Romero reflects on whether God stays in heaven because he is afraid of what he created here on Earth. It’s a heavy point of view for such a fluffy, fun-filled film. Yet it is dropped with the same abruptness with which it is brought up, leaving the adult audience members to ponder its point. It is possible that Rodriguez was attempting to offer some food for thought on how displeasing the wayward actions of human beings are to God, but even this is unclear.
“Spy Kids 2” is a juvie James Bond spoof with home-and-hearth morals that may be just as entertaining for adults as for the younger set. The action adventure scenes should be fine for older children and pre-teens, although younger children may be frightened by them.
Because of some mild action sequences with a few crass expressions, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested.
These movies have been evaluated for artistic merit and moral suitability by the media reviewing division of Catholic News Service. The reviews include the CNS rating, the Motion Picture Association of America rating, and a brief synopsis of the movie.
The classifications are as follows:
A-I -- general patronage;
A-II -- adults and adolescents;
A-III -- adults;
L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. L replaces the previous classification, A-IV.
O -- morally offensive.
Note: Some movies previously were designated A-IV. Older films with this classification should be regarded as classified L.