After “Spy Kids” was released as a sleeper hit, Robert “RR” Rodriguez began working on a second installment with the Main Cast reprising their roles in the sequel called, “Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams.” Released in 2002, (same year Kingdom Hearts came out) it received positive reviews from critics and audiences alike. Plus, it made enough revenue at the box office. Netflix has confirmed they will release Spy Kids as a computer animated series airing on April 20. In response, I would like to share my real thoughts about Spy Kids 2. Don’t forget Robert Rodriguez is working on his upcoming film called, “Alita: Battle Angel” with James Cameron collaborating on set.
This review is a non-spoiler article. If you’ve never seen the original or second entry, feel free to read it.
Positive & Negative Qualities
Positive: Alexa Vega & Daryl Sabara reprise their roles as Carmen & Juni. They both did a good job on their performances.
Other Cast Members such as Danny Trejo, (Rodriguez’ lucky charm) Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino, Alan Cumming, Mike Judge, Cheech Marin, Tony Shalhoub, Holland Taylor & Ricardo Montalban (Khan from Star Trek) all did a good job for their performances.
Then Newcomers to the series including Steve Buscemi, Bill Paxton, (may he Rest in Peace) Emily Osmet & Christopher McDonald all did an ok job for their performances.
Some Action Sequences were solid and funny at the same time.
Robert “RR” Rodriguez returns to direct, write, produce, edit, film and compose the second entry.
Fun Fact: Spy Kids 2 is the first time Rodriguez shot in digital format rather than shooting in traditional film.
Steve Buscemi’s character Dr. Romero, has a back story about the origins of the titular Island.
Cinematography didn’t contain no technical problems.
Despite cheap lookin’ C.G.I. Creature Designs are unique, featuring two specific animals spliced as one. Rodriguez confirmed that the creatures’ movement was intentional to resemble Ray Harryhausen’s Stop-Motion Techniques.
Carmen said “shiitake mushrooms.” Just like I’ve mentioned in the first film, I’m giving her Bonus Points for making me laugh. Mike Myers also used a joke about shiitake mushrooms in Austin Powers: Goldmember. Maybe he watched it to come up with his own joke about mushrooms. Hence this line, “Nice potty mouth dirtbag!”
Both Carmen & Juni use a gadget to help them climb on a wall like Spider-Man. Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man came out the same year as Spy Kids 2. Speaking of wall crawling, Tom Cruise did a similar scene in “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol” when his character Ethan Hunt, puts on magnetic gloves to help him wall crawl to the tallest building in the world. I think Tom came up with idea to do a stunt without involving green screen or stunt doubles. I’m gonna assume he hired Alexa & Daryl to babysit his daughter Suri, so he can say… “You think you’re so cool with your goofy lookin’ gadgets?” “Kids let me show you what a REAL spy can do!”
Coincidentally, Spy Kids 2 was released alongside a dozen of spy films. Here’s a list. It was a trend back in 2002.
- The Sum of all Fears
- Collateral Damage
- Lilo and Stitch
- Die Another Day
- Bad Company
- The Tuxedo
- Clockstoppers
- The Master of Disguise
- Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course
- I Spy
- Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams
- The Bourne Identity
- xXx
- Confessions of a Dangerous Mind
The mascot from Troublemaker Studios appears before the film begins. To put the icing on the cake, the studio is also a theme park ride. Rodriguez also filmed the opening scene in Six Flags located in Arlington, Texas! I’ll give this movie an Extra Point for filming various scenes in Texas. What do RR and I both have in common? We’re native Texans.
Oye Como Spy is once again used as the instrumental theme. Hearing that piece reminded me of Wonder Woman’s theme from Batman Vs. Superman and her solo movie.
One scene pays tribute to “Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey” You know that one scene with them falling to a bottomless pit? Somebody’s been watching The Wild Stallions!
Marketing for the second film never revealed who the bad guy is. You have to see it to find out who he/she truly is.
There is a shocking moment near the end of the film. I won’t spoil it.
During the End Credits, Both Carmen & Juni performed like rock stars in front a large crowd. Alexa herself, did her own singing for “Isle of Dreams.”
Bloopers are also used during the End Credits. Daryl jokingly referred to a necklace as “My Precious.” Speaking of precious, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers also came out in 2002. I guess he’s a Tolkien fan.
Negative: Visual Effects such as a Green Screen Effect, resembles something off of a Jimmy Neutron episode. Let’s be honest, Mr. Rodriguez is known for making cheap films since “El Mariachi.”
The adult spies are depicted as a bunch of stupid a-holes for not double checking to if they think Juni actually stole something very important. Agencies like S.H.I.E.L.D. MI6 & KND (from Codename Kids Next Door) are crazy prepared by performing a cavity search before they apprehend a possible suspect! That’s what happens if The OSS never took TSA’s advice to see if someone is smuggling something outside or inside a person’s body!
Harvey “Ted Bundy” Weinstein served as an executive producer. He’s such a fucking dickhole.
The Final Verdict: B, FOR BRIGHT & COLORFUL!
Despite two problems listed as cons, Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams is good as its predecessor. I would consider the second installment as the last good film of the series until Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over & Spy Kids: All the Time in the World tarnished the series. I highly recommend both the first and second films. If you’re gonna watch the last two films, you might possibly regret watching if you use 3-D glasses.
Nickthemoviecritic.com 