I Spy

2002 "Attitude meets espionage."
5.4| 1h37m| PG-13| en| More Info
Released: 31 October 2002 Released
Producted By: Columbia Pictures
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
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Synopsis

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.

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Harriet Deltubbo Actually, the movie itself is nothing that special, but it has some good stuff. From an artistic standpoint, there were some plot elements and character developments I didn't think were totally needed. They do however drive the story, which seemed to be their purpose, so I can accept them. The leads' combined talents and charisma have a lot to do with this movie's success. I found the acting to be sensational, the dialogue incredible and the director's abilities to be up to par and then some. It reminds me of some of those sombre Canadian films that were popular back in the 1990s. My final rating comes in at seven out of 10.
oneguyrambling Alex Scott (Owen Wilson) is a mediocre spy, jealous of the better credentialed, better equipped and better-looking around him.When he teams with a (literal) heavyweight, the undisputed boxing World Champion Kelly Robinson (Eddie Murphy), who boasts not only a 57-0 record (often), he also boasts about just about everything else that one man can boast about.The impossible duo try to utilize Robinson's fame and renown to gain access to a top secret US spy plane that has been stolen, using an upcoming Robinson fight in Eastern Europe as cover. Famke Janssen is also on board as a co-spy and love interest.Fortunately to fast track proceedings the new bout for World Title clinching 58-0 is being hosted by Gunders (Malcolm MacDowell), the very same bad guy that is selling the plane to the highest bidder – he too is using the fight as cover.Being a long time Champion Robinson is used to being fawned over and getting things his way, he lives 'the life'; jewelry, stretch limousines, private jets, referring to himself in the first person constantly, transvestites… (whoops confusing real life and movie life there). Robinson and Scott argue over who is controlling the mission, Robinson thinks he should as he is the bigger name, Scott thinks he should because, well he's the spy and all. Scott tries to seduce Robinson into doing things his way by showing him the spy-toys and gadgets, only to repeatedly learn that the only thing to seduce Robinson – is Robinson.I-Spy is heavy on the light comedy, and light on the heavy action, choosing to favour and rely on Wilson's 'Awww shucks' likability and Murphy's bravado. It is a combination that very nearly works, this is Murphy's best film since Bowfinger, and his cockiness and misguided self confidence complements Wilson's 'Wilson-isms'.The ridiculous action is pretty fun, frivolous and forgivable given the chuckles that it elicits, but it must be said that the final 15 minutes are not so successful, and ends the film on a flat note.I-Spy has a couple of genuinely funny scenes, lots of inoffensive action and enough bright colours to keep most amused. It is the perfect low key Sunday arvo DVD, where it doesn't matter if you sleep through 25 minutes or so.Final Rating – 5.5 / 10. I-Spy is a diluted version of many other admittedly better mismatched buddy action comedies. It is a shiny expensive forgery of a superior original, but that by no means makes it worthless. Another film that might be tough to choose, but easy enough to watch.
manjodude I felt I Spy was a movie with great comic performances(mainly from Eddie Murphy) but a bit weakly executed.Eddie Murphy was the sheer life of the movie but I guess could not salvage it with all his comic might! Owen Wilson gives a good, funny support but I find their pairing odd, not to mention Eddie's performance so overshadowed Owen's in most scenes. Famke Janssen was smoking hot and also got a fairly strong role.Although most of the scenes were hilarious, the climax turned out to be lame. Not funny to me although intended to be.Also, some scenes like the one where our duo face off with the baddies on top of the bridge was another sore thumb. No excitement that you'd expect from such action moments.Verdict: A disappointment. Have some hearty laughs, and then move on with your life!
rrandcoyote Obviously the creators of this film did not care for the original show. If they had, they wouldn't have gone so far out of their way to alter it beyond recognition.Kelly and Scotty were suave, urbane, competent. Neither one of them was James Bond. They never stopped into the spy center to pick up their gadgets.Kelly did NOT have a posse, a bevy of bi-atches or a private airplane with his name splattered on the side, and he did not refer to himself in the third person. AND, he was a WHITE tennis player, not a black exhibition boxer. (I guess white men can't jump, so they made the black guy the athlete.) Robert Culp was incredibly sexy but did not refer to himself as "Agent Double Oh Nine and a Half". I mean, ewe! But, these are all elements of this film, which for some reason bares the name of the series and heists the character names.I don't think I would have hated this movie so much if it weren't pretending to have anything to do with the classic series. If it were a stand alone flick about a couple of spy guys, then, so what. But, as it is, it's basically an affront to the original "I Spy". Was their only research a poster or something? Because, the original show is available on DVD, so it's not as if it's gone from the planet.It brings to mind the horrific "update" of the "Wild, Wild West", a Razzie Award fav.I don't have any problem with black people updating these characters and stepping into the roles. But, do they have to do it so badly? Kelly and Scotty were never goofy, or grossly incompetent. (Ok, so they walked into a couple of fists along the way. It was subtle comedy, not this over-blown mess.) This Kelly and "Alex" are hopelessly off the mark.Updates can work, (Scooby-Doo, Addams Family, Bradey Bunch) but there has to be SOME respect for the source material, even if it's parody. How can you parody something you've never bothered to see.And gawd, this movie makes me love Culp and Cosby even more than I already do!