My Spy

STX made headlines when they agreed to sell their upcoming film “My SPY” to Amazon so the movie could debut on the streaming service versus waiting for the highly uncertain time when audiences will be able to return to theaters in significant numbers to make films profitable. The movie stars Dave Bautista as a C.I.A. agent named JJ. JJ was a former Special Forces member who joined the agency after his military career ended. After an operation does not go as planned; JJ’s boss David Kim (Ken Jeong) questions whether JJ is right for the type of work that is required. JJ is assigned with an overzealous analyst named Bobbi (Kristen Schaal) to conduct surveillance on a single mother named Kate (Parisa Fitz-Henley) and her nine-year-old daughter Sophie (Chloe Coleman). Kate Sophie had just moved from Paris and are struggling to adapt to the new situation. It seems that Sophie’s father was deeply involved in all sorts of illegal operations and JJ and Bobbi are keeping an eye on them to see if their uncle attempts to contact them as he’s a key figure in an ongoing plutonium arms deal. Things take an unexpected turn when the precocious Sophie figures out that their apartment is loaded with surveillance gear and soon tracks it to an adjacent apartment and confronts JJ and Bobbi. Unwilling to have to admit to his superiors that their cover was blown by a nine-year-old girl; JJ soon becomes Sophie’s new friend as she forces him to take her ice-skating and to appear at a school career day as she is desperate to make friends following her move. This arrangement causes issues with Bobbi and she believes that JJ needs to be training her in the finer aspects of his career. Further complicating matters is a growing attraction between JJ and Kate thanks to Sophie repeatedly finding ways for her mother and JJ to be together. While most viewers will be able to see where the film is heading; the enjoyable cast and the chemistry between them makes the movie rise above standard family comedies. Bautista does a great job poking fun at his action persona and clearly showed in his “Guardians of the Galaxy” performances that he is certainly capable of mixing comedy and action. While the film does not offer much in the way of surprises; it does offer some very charming and enjoyable moments with enough humor to make it an enjoyable viewing experience for the entire family. 3.5 stars out of 5

In what usually proves to be rare in the cinema world, “My Spy” is a family film that exceeds expectations, if only slightly. The studio’s marketing campaign didn’t do the film any favors, including a trailer filled with groan-worthy dad jokes and a series of pratfalls, but this gruff-lunkhead-meets-sassy-kid buddy comedy is better than you’d think. Hard-nosed CIA operative J.J. (Dave Bautista) has recently been demoted to undercover stakeout duty, assigned to watch a precocious nine-year-old girl Sophie (Chloe Coleman) and her mother (Parisa Fitz-Henley). When the wise beyond her years little girl discovers the hidden surveillance cameras in her apartment, she uses her instincts to find and expose J.J. and his tech-savvy partner Bobbi (Kristen Schaal). Sophie is ready to blow the CIA’s cover, but makes a deal with the two in a mild form of blackmail — J.J. must spend time with her doing fun things like getting ice cream, going ice skating, and teaching her to be a spy. Much of the film’s success lies in the chemistry of the two leads, an odd pairing that somehow feels organic. Coleman isn’t an annoying child actor, and Bautista is one of the most likeable muscle heads around. The supporting cast, filled in by Schaal, Fitz-Henley, and Ken Jeong, are amusing, too. They deliver simple, straightforward jokes with aplomb, helping to sell even the most ridiculous aspects of the story to households huddled around the t.v. for family movie night. It’s nice to have pleasant little films like this to pass the time at home, and while “My Spy” isn’t very distinguished nor too original, it also isn’t wholly lazy, mindless junk. The PG-13 rating gives it a bit of edginess in terms of action, and despite stereotypical comedy tropes and a basic story, the movie supplies enough good fun to warrant a mild recommendation.

To me, this is an old fashioned comedy action movie. Think Schwarzenegger teamed up with children. The dialogue is witty and the film is fit for the entire family to watch together. I wouldn’t claim it is groundbreaking or an instant classic, but it was entertaining. I really liked Kristen Schawlow as Bobbi, the inexperienced sidekick. It is not a glamorous role but in a way, she balances out the lack of cuteness of the child star, who is depicted as mature in the art of spying. She steals a few scenes along the way. I was bemused to see a couple of reviews that said it is a good movie, but then rated it 5 out of 10, which makes it seem like the innocence and the playfulness of the genre is ramping the rating down. Or perhaps I am just an easy grader. In any case, I am less demanding with science fiction and kid comedies. I do not turn my nose up if they are merely good rather than great. This one is good, so I will be watching My Spy again.

**My Spy brings family-friendly comedy and a little spy action together to make a feel-good movie that is a lot of fun.** I watched this one with low expectations and only watched it because I wanted something on in the background while my three-year-old daughter was awake. I used to think these family films weren’t my kind of movies, but maybe the three-year-old daughter changed that because I was significantly more invested in this movie than expected! Dave Bautista’s emotionally closed-off tough guy spy finds his humanity and heart by protecting a little girl from danger. It was pretty much the happy family-friendly version of Man on Fire. It’s a plot we have seen before, but Dave Bautista’s comedy and Chloe Coleman’s charm made My Spy a worthwhile family comedy with a bit of adventure mixed in.