March 28, 2024
Archive

As sequel, ‘Spy Kids 2’ a pleasant surprise Film builds on original, without being repetitive

When heading into the cinema to view a sequel, the moviegoer is, in his or her heart, a little prepared to be disappointed.

After all, whatever was fresh and new in the original film is bound to be diluted in the sequel. It’s hard to rekindle the spark of discovery.

That’s why “Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams” is such a pleasant surprise. Like “Stuart Little 2” before it this summer, it manages to build on the original, rather than just being repetitive.

In “Spy Kids,” Carmen and Juni Cortez, unaware that they were the children of retired spies, became accidental spies themselves, in order to rescue their parents (played by Antonio Banderas and Carlo Gugino). They get to play with a lot of spy gadgets created by their Uncle Machete (Danny Trejo), and by film’s end, they’ve become spies in their own right.

In the new film, the Cortez children’s exploits have led to the development of a Spy Kids program within the intelligence community (remember that Washington motto: “Nothing succeeds like excess.”).

In fact, Carmen (Alexa Vega) and Juni (Daryl Sabara) are about to become obsolete, thanks to another brother-and-sister team, Gary (Matthew O’Leary) and Gerti (Emily Osment) Giggles. After Juni is blamed for a top-secret device being stolen, he is dismissed from the program. So it’s up to Carmen and him to clear his good name by recovering the device.

Armed with wonderful toys from Machete, they hurry off to the aforementioned “Island of Lost Dreams,” right smack in the middle of the Bermuda Triangle. They’re not only racing against Gary and Gerti, but renegade spies from their own agency who are behind this plot to take over the world. At the same time, they’re being sought by their parents and their spy grandparents (Ricardo Montalban, Taylor Holland).

The pair discovers Dr. Romero, the scientist who not only created the device they’re seeking, but the island’s magical animal inhabitants as well. They fight, against all odds, to foil the evil plot that’s afoot.

My junior critic declared the sequel even better than the original. She enjoyed the wacky gadgets the spy kids employed in the course of their adventure. She’s given “SK2” the highest compliment, continuing to act out situations from the film days later.

My toddler critic, no live-action film fan, liked it less, preferring to engage in lobby trips, seat spring-back testing and in-lap calisthenics.

“Spy Kids 2,” complete with its offbeat, Bondian technology, is an engaging visit with the Cortez children for both kids and their parents. It should entice both groups back for the next secret mission.

Dale McGarrigle is the NEWS’ veteran entertainment writer.


Have feedback? Want to know more? Send us ideas for follow-up stories.

comments for this post are closed

You may also like