Synopsis:
JJ a hardened CIA operative who has been demoted and finds himself at the mercy of a precocious 9-year-old girl, named Sophie where he has been sent undercover begrudgingly to surveil her family.
I’ve been sitting with this movie for a while now since it’s initial release date was in March. As the pandemic concerns grew, its release date was moved to April 17th. So I decided to wait. Now, with theaters being closed for the unforeseeable future, we have learned that STX has sold My Spy to Amazon. Therefore, we will get a streaming release rather than a theatrical one and it’s time to let you know if it will be worth watching or not.
It seems to me that after his success in the MCU and his role in the 2019 laugh heavy surprise Stuber, it’s safe to safe that Dave Bautista has solidified his place in the world of action-comedy. Over the years we’ve had movies like Kindergarten Cop, The Spy Next Door, and The Pacifier that seem a tad bit similar to each other. These movies usually feature a highly trained, one-track-minded government operative or cop that eventually morph into softies after prolonged exposure to the children they are trying to protect. Often lacking normal people skills, the protagonist usually secretly wants a domestic lifestyle that has eluded them to the point of only thinking about work and becoming the best. My Spy is no different but it knows it’s not. It’s not a movie that takes itself too seriously, it simultaneously makes fun itself while joking on the other movies of its kind. It’s charmingly fun and genuine which sets it apart from the others.
I couldn’t help but smile and laugh throughout the entirety of the movie. While the story seems to initially focus on a mission, the bulk of the movie is our giant hero turning in to putty in the hands of a cute curly-headed little girl. That itself conflicts with the storyline but it coincides with the title. It’s predictable and cheesy at times but you know what you’re getting into with a movie like this, so you just sit back and enjoy. Also, with Kristen Schaal and Ken Jeong part of the cast, it has genuine comedic moments. Apart from that, it is interesting to think about a person that made it through years of extreme mental and physical training to become a skilled agent to then be flipped by a kid within days. Overall, with its heartfelt message and Chloe Coleman stealing the show, My Spy is a fun time for everyone.
Plot & Pace
The story follows CIA operative JJ after a botched mission. With his job hanging on by a thread, he is given a fluff assignment and paired with a tech specialist that is obsessed with him. His assignment is to stake out the apartment of a mother and daughter who may be in danger. Proving he’s not the best at his job, he is caught by the little girl he is surveilling and she decides to blackmail him. He is now tasked with protecting the girl and her mother but also doing what she says so she doesn’t blow his cover more than it already has been. The movie moves at a seemingly perfect pace with no dead spots or unnecessary scenes. I was left with a few questions but the movie isn’t serious enough for me to linger on those questions.
Characters & Chemistry
Dave Bautista as JJ really made this movie fun to watch. It’s always entertaining to watch a 6’6 man with muscles up to his ears do the shoot dance. He was dangerous to those who were threats to the world but a kitten when it came to his interactions with Sophie (Chloe Coleman). Sophie was smart, witty, and a joy to watch. The two played off of each other very well. Kristen Schaal as Bobbi was effortlessly hilarious and need no help to sell her funny. Parisa Fitz-Henley as Kate, Sophie’s mother, is a hardworking single mother that is having a hard time balancing her job and home life. Her chemistry with JJ felt very honest.
My Spy will be released on Prime Video soon. I’m not sure if they are going to keep the April 17th release date but I assume they will. Enjoy the movie and stay safe.
Director: Peter Segal
Writers: Erich Hoeber, Jon Hoeber
Rated: PG-13
Runtime: 1h 39m
Rating: 3 out of 5
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