Hey folks, Harry here with the first review I've seen anywhere of Robert Rodriguez's SPY KIDS 2: ISLAND OF LOST DREAMS. I see the film pretty soon, and I'm very much looking forward to seeing what Robert has done with it this time out. Good Kid Movies are awesome. This Saturday I'm hosting the monthly edition of the Saturday Morning Kids Club presentation of THE APPLE DUMPLING GANG - can't wait to see old Jack Elam and Knotts on screen again. Anyway, this sounds like another fun kids film, here ya go...
Hey Harry. Kris here from Oscar Central.com.
I attended a critics' screening of Robert Rodriguez's "Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams" Thursday morning, and I thought I'd write in with my thoughts.
Firstly, I won't divulge too much of the plot. Not that I don't want to spill the beans, there really aren't many to spill. It's more like the plot just isn't THAT interesting to dig into here. But the style of the film and the characters ARE.
Well, those familiar with the first film know how absurd and over-the-top the humor was. Also, those who have seen Rodriguea's student film, "Bedhead," know where these tendencies stem from.
In the new installment, the story centers around the Spy Kids division of OSS. There are other Spy Kids along with the familiar Carmen and Juni Cortez (Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara respectively). Tww in particular. The typical asshole kid (played by Matthew O'Leary) who Carmen is OF COURSE stuck on, and his kid sister, a brat, played by Emily Osment.
Much of the story centers around the competition between these two teams, and their journey to recover a device that COULD DESTROY THE WORLD.
Of course.
Well, their journey leads them to the mysterious Island of Lost Dreams where a mad scientist, Romero (a hilarious Steve Buscemi) has accidentally created a race of cross-bread animals. The device the Spy Kids are after is on this dangerous island, and they are thrown in a race to retrieve it. Who will get their first, and whose side is everyone on...really?
Well, that's a little bit of the plot, but I have to say the funniest things in this movie will be found in the beginning with Bill Paxton playing a wacky theme park creator and his RIDICULOUS rides. The Vomiter, the juggler,...you can imagine.
Also, Mike Judge has a featured role as a bit of an enemy named Donnagon, father of the other two Spy Kids, who wants the device so that he can take over the world, etc., etc.
Making brief return appearances are Alan Cumming and Tony Shalhoub in their respective absurd roles.
And as usual, Danny Trejo is simply PRICELESS.
In addition, for the fans of Lord of the Rings and Raiders of the Lost Ark, you'll find some amusing homages to those films in "Spy Kids 2."
If you enjoyed the first film, I definitely recommend the sequel. I laughed at least once every minute, and I'll likely check it out again.
Also, Antonio Banderas and Carlo Gugino reprose their roles, and the comedy in a twitch of Banderas' face is worth a THOUSAND laughs.
It's funny stuff, and while not up to par with the first film necessarily, it is certainly a riot on its own merits. It's a SEQUEL though, so that should be expected.
Take the two and a half hours to see this one when it is released August 7.
-Kris
