Spy Kids ★★★ 2001 (PG) Rare live-action kid's movie that doesn't talk down to its target audience has pre-teens Carmen (Vega)and Juni Cortez (Sabara) bemoaning their boring life and dealing with troublesome bullies until their parents disappear. It seems that Mom (Gugino) and Dad (Banderas) are retired super-spies who get kidnapped while on one last mission. It's up to the kids, along with perennial sidekick Marin, to save their folks (and the world) from evil kid-show host Fegan Floop (Cumming, bidding for the title of world's busiest screen villian) and Minion (Shalhoub). Director/writer/editor/composer Rodriquez makes a concerted effort to provide family entertainment with zero objectionable material but plenty of geewhiz gadgetry, fanciful set design, and exciting action. He said he wanted to make a movie that he'd be proud to show his children and his parents. He has succeeded. 88m/C VHS, DVD, Wide. US Alexa Vega, Daryl Sabara, Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino, Alan Cumming, Tony Shalhoub, Teri Hatcher, Richard "Cheech" Marin, Robert Patrick, Danny Trejo, George Clooney;
Director:
Robert Rodriguez;
Writer:
Robert Rodriguez;
Writer:
Guillermo Navarro;
Cameo:
Robert Rodriguez, Danny Elfman, John Debney.
