PLOT: When a tough CIA operative is put on a routine surveillance mission, he and his partner are discovered by the young girl they are watching. She then convinces the agent to spend a little quality time and teach her the ways of being a secret agent. Mild laughter and a little danger ensue.
REVIEW: Dave Bautista is a talented guy. Over the past few years, he’s proven to have an impressive on-screen presence whether doing comedy, action, or drama. Perhaps the most surprising talent he offers is that he can be incredibly funny, which he’s proven time and again – especially in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY. And you know what happens when a tough guy can bring on the humor? Well, it seems studios can always partner them up with a child (or children) for a family-friendly take on their action pedigree. This time around, Mr. Bautista joins his delightful co-star Chloe Coleman for the action-comedy MY SPY. The two work rather well together and seem to be having a good time with this particular adventure. Unfortunately, that pleasurable experience doesn’t fully translate to this viewer. With the film’s original release date changed due to our current lockdown situation, perhaps this mediocre flick will play a whole lot better on Amazon Prime.
Dave Bautista is JJ, a tough as nails CIA operative who plays by his own rules. After creating a tad bit too much mayhem during an undercover mission, he instead fills more body bags than getting actual answers needed to bust those in charge. This leads to a less than exciting surveillance assignment involving a mother and her daughter who may have a connection to the criminals they are seeking out. Partnered with an overzealous agent named Bobbi (Kristen Schaal), the two find their mission in trouble when the girl named Sophie (Chloe Coleman) discovers that they are watching her and her mom Kate (Parisa Fitz-Henley). Instead of spilling the beans, she boldly convinces JJ to become something like a surrogate dad and teach her how to be a spy. Action ensues, danger arrives, and somehow JJ and Sophie discover a bond in each other that neither of them knew they needed.
The trailer for MY SPY offers a few charming moments that certainly put a smile on my face. Thus, there were expectations that this would be better than expected when it came to action stars taking on more accessible material. However, the only real laughs happen to come from what you find in that two and a half minute preview. That’s not to say that the rest of the film is completely devoid of anything on par, but there’s not much in the way of being anything more than mediocre. The story is predictable and it’s clear to see every single step that JJ and company will take. Most of the side characters follow an obvious pattern including his wacky partner, his jerk boss, and of course lame villains. There’s very little that is fresh or original that will make this stand out in any way. It’s certainly not bad, but it rarely gives you anything that feels remotely fresh or relevant – the action sequences are especially watered down.
To give a little credit where credit is due, there are things to appreciate here. As previously stated, the relationship between Bautista and Coleman is at times incredibly sweet. The two have a nice balance that managed to keep me a least a little invested in their plight. As well, Kristen Schaal stands out as the goofy partner who idolizes JJ… well, until she starts to work with him. The actress is always a joy to watch, and many of the funniest bits come from her. And while Parisa Fitz-Henley doesn’t have a whole lot to do aside from a possible love interest for Bautista and a mother in distress, she is especially charming as she tries to do the right thing by her daughter. Had the story somehow remained on these characters and removed the lame action set pieces that wouldn’t stand out on a television pilot, it might have been a far more interesting film. Although that opening action sequence with Bautista being Bautista was entertainginly energetic.
Directed by Peter Segal (GRUDGE MATCH, TOMMY BOY, GET SMART), there is a surprisingly lackluster feel for much of the film. As mentioned, whenever you have JJ taking Sophie to go ice skating, or perhaps going to parent night at school, it can be a pretty enjoyable feature. Yet it’s impossible to fully care because they want audiences to latch onto the thrill of the chase when danger finally does arrive. This is especially true for the final half act. There is rarely any sort of suspense or excitement, so much so that the explosions and the attempts to create any of that are dreadfully dull. The obvious jokes, like what to do when walking away from an explosion, fall flat and have been done much better in other films. And the plot is so painfully generic that you’ll just be rooting for more adorable scenes with JJ as he lets his guard down.
MY SPY isn’t a terrible movie at all, it’s just not all that interesting. The chemistry between Bautista and Coleman is delightful and frankly the real reason to tune in. And both Schaal and Fitz-Henley add a bit of charm to this basic family flick. However, in the end, this is just another attempt to give a solid action star a kid-friendly feature. If this sounds like something you’d enjoy, then it’s certainly worth a watch once it arrives on Prime this coming Friday. If you are a fan of Bautista, you’re likely to at least find something to enjoy here. As well, Coleman is a solid pairing for him. Just don’t go in with high expectations hoping for cool action and hilarity all around. If you take it as an hour and a half time waster that you can just turn on and tune out, you may find it worthwhile.