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Spy kids

Threat advisory: High - High risk of entertaining activities

Movie propaganda

Real spies... only smaller.

Gregorio (Antonio Banderas) and Ingrid Cortez (Carla Gugino) are the two greatest secret agents the world has ever known: masters of disguise, mavens of invention, able to stop wars before they even start. Working for separate countries, they are sent to eliminate their most dangerous enemy... each other. But in an exotic corner of the world when they finally come face to face, they fall in love instead and embark on the most dangerous mission they have ever faced: raising a family.

Now, nine years later, after their retirement, having exchanged the adventure of espionage for parenthood, Gregorio and Ingrid Cortez are called back into action. When their former colleagues, the world's most formidable spies, start disappearing one by one, the Cortezes are forced to take on techno-wizard Fegan Floop (Alan Cumming) and his evil, egg-headed sidekick, Minion (Tony Shalhoub). But when the unthinkable happens and they too disappear, there are only two people in the world who can rescue them... their kids.

Armed with a bag of high tech gadgets and out-of-this world transportation, Carmen (Alexa Vega) and Juni (Daryl Sabara) will bravely jet through the air, dive under the seas and crisscross the globe in a series of thrilling adventures on a mission to stop floop, save their parents... and maybe even the world.

Also starring Teri Hatcher as Ms Gradenko, Cheech Marin, Robert Patrick and Danny Trejo. Written by Ehren Kruger, directed by Robert Rodriguez.

Cinematic intelligence sources

Spy kids official movie site
Studios and distributors:

Dimension Films * Roadshow Films

Intelligence analyst

Special Agent Matti

Theatrical report

Great fun and laughs for the kids this September school holidays. The kids are all more intelligent than the groan-ups, the kids have all the best lines and the groan-ups have the best toys (just like in the real world).

Antonio is surprisingly understated in his role as he is not only not the centre of attention for the film, he's also no better a spy then his wife. Can you imagine James Bond stepping aside to let himself be rescued by not only his wife but his children? It's a cinematic miracle and says a lot about his ego. Alexa and Daryl really are two kids, even when the script sometimes forces them into the position of having to be what Hollywood adults think kids are like. Alexa does a great line in bitter sarcasm that will serve her well when she's old and haggard. (Just ask Bette Davis).

Where the film falls down is in the quality of its villain: Alan was an utter prick in Titus, but he's reduced to a cartoon in Spy kids. Tony's secret villainy is a nice twist, but you can't get good help these days, anyway.

Stay tuned for Spy kids 2: the island of lost dreams, coming to a school holiday near you.