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Avg. Rating: 3.5
Creepy? We're the CIA, creepy is what we do.
This was a very stylish and respectful homage to the great Bond films. Over the years, I have seen Hollywood disrespect this genre with horrible adaptations and overwhelming clichés that almost give the Bond films a bad name. It always seems like if someone wants to make a spy film, you have to pay homage to the God of spy films, James Bond, and whether you give a good sacrifice or a bad one is how the audiences will react to the finished cinematic project. Luckily, Agent Cody Banks gives a great sacrifice to the films and takes off running on its own two feet without ever disrespecting the genre. Muniz is exceptional as the suave spy that has trouble with the ladies, and a strong secondary cast (that involves Hilary Duff, Angie Harmon, Keith David, and Ian McShane) only helps build the amazingly lighthearted feel to this film. I was shocked how much I enjoyed watching this. From the little jokes, to the copious amounts of action and violence, this film is one of those rare finds that works well for children, but also gives the adult at least an hour of entertainment.
I think what makes this a memorable film is the simplistic, yet very stylistic story that doesn't try to outdo itself. I think that is where this movie succeeds. In some spy films, the filmmakers are more centralized on the big explosions or the complexity of the bad guys plan, instead of trying to build a story from the ground up. That is where Agent Cody Banks excels. It gives us the heroine right up front as well as what he must do. There is no wish washing around the truth, just a straightforward story that keeps your attention by giving us this portrait of an every-man instead of some super-sleuth. The fact that Muniz cannot talk to women only grounds him and makes him more realistic and enjoyable. I never found myself thinking about where this guy came from, how he spent his money, and what were his hidden dark secrets because ... he was a kid. It was simply explained. I completely demise those films that try to build more upon a character than what is needed. This has the unfortunate side effect of ruining a story, but thankfully director Harald Zwart chose to stay on a very straight path. With his focused direction and skillful editing, he creates a beautiful homage to the great Bond films that heartily deserved a sequel.
Overall, I was impressed. I didn't think I was going to be and basically had written this film off until I actually watched it. This is one of those multi-pleasure films where children, and adults, of all ages will grab ahold of something and enjoy it. Me, it was the CIA director that continually made me laugh as well as Darrell Hammond's portrayal of Earl, the CIA scientist that equips Cody Banks with all the cool Bond gadgets. His role was sheer dynamite and he did exceptionally well with it. It is these types of surprises that allowed this film to keep its head above water. Now, this film is no feat of brilliance, but it does provide a good hour and a half of entertainment that I was not expecting. Check this film out if you are interested is trying something new and fresh. If you are not a fan of the series, Malcolm in the Middle, do not worry, Muniz plays away from his television character and defines himself as a pretty decent actor. I recommend it!
Grade: **** out of *****
soo cool!
I cannot conplain about this movie! All the gadgets were cool and the acting was awsome. The plot was better than normal(for me at least) And no bratty kids! I strongly recomend this movie!
I have not seen the second one yet though.
Formulaic but entertaining
2.5 stars
Films geared for teen audiences are often formulaic. Film studios seem to have a rather twisted idea that teens are interested in watching movies where the bad guys are bumbling idiots. If you look at today's contemporary literature for teens or young adults, you'll find that the opposite is true. The books that are being written (with the exception of spin-offs like The O.C. or Charmed) are usually intelligent. So why not make a movie for teens that's clever and thought provoking? Sure, the film made a good deal of money. Twenty-six million dollars was spent on its production, and it made forty-seven million in the theaters, and another forty-million for rentals. A good enough profit to make a second film.
This was above average for your typical teen film - but not by much. The formula is simple. A kid has resources that are beyond that of a normal kid (and yes, I understand that this is meant to be a self-esteem booster), he faces some fairly daunting odds, overcomes them, and gets the girl. That's the formula. Everything else is either peripheral (parents) or gadgetry.
That said, the action sequences in the film were believable and well choreographed. I have no idea if Frankie Muniz is skilled in the martial arts, but if he isn't, then the double they had stand in from him did a good job - as did the director for making it seem that it was actually Muniz doing the spins and kicks.
Still, I would like to see more films geared towards teens that reflect current trends of teen literature. The literature is getting "smarter", and so should the movies.
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