Shadows on the Wall | Spy Kids: Armageddon

Spy Kids: Armageddon

dir Robert Rodriguez
scr Robert Rodriguez, Racer Max
prd Racer Max, Robert Rodriguez, Elizabeth Avellan, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger
with Everly Carganilla, Connor Esterson, Gina Rodriguez, Zachary Levi, Billy Magnussen, DJ Cotrona, Joe Schilling, Solar Dena Bennett, Nicholas James Ortiz, Jersey Johnston, Isaac Garza, Neal Kodinsky
release US/UK 22.Sep.23
23/US Netflix 1h48

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levi, carganilla, esterson and rodriguez

Twelve years after the last Spy Kids movie, Robert Rodriguez goes for a full reboot. It's just as cartoonish, with wacky effects and an absurd plot. But the cast is hilariously up for it, delivering funny zingers while diving into the physical chaos. And the story is ultimately so optimistic that it becomes almost important as a reminder that every conflict doesn't need to end with an agonising death.

Brainy young teens Patty and Tony (Carganilla and Esterson) are annoyed that their parents Nora and Terrence (Rodriguez and Levi) control their gaming time. They're also experts at outwitting them, winning an advance copy of a hot new game from developer Rey (Magnussen). But they don't know their parents are spies, and that Rey is using the game to hack their Armageddon code so he can take over the world's devices. As he unleashes his plan, Patty and Tony hit a steep learning curve, becoming spies themselves so they can rescue their parents and save humanity.

Refreshingly, once Patty and Tony shift their approach when they realise that Rey wants to make the world a more peaceful place. The trick is convincing the grown-ups, especially gung-ho spy boss Devlin (Cotrona). Gaming infiltrates the entire movie, as Rey uses VR tech to bring warriors into the real world, leading to a final sequence in which the family enters the game to take on Rey. This is played for laughs at every step, eliciting amused laughter at the silly costumes and settings.

There's definitely a sense that this whole movie was shot using green screens in the filmmaker's garage. Everything looks fantastical, so actors match the tone with engagingly bemused performances. Carganilla and Esterson combine smarts and physicality as believable kids who only rarely need an adult's help. Rodriguez and Levi inject some nuance into their roles while still having fun with the goofy action. So the family-values dynamic is strong but never sentimental.

While Magnussen adds smirking swagger, the violence remains in the virtual realm. Rey's master plan is to force people to consider peaceful solutions before resorting to brutality, and this lateral approach gives the whole movie a nice thematic kick, turning Patty into the hero of the piece for her ability to find cleverly constructive paths through even the nastiest situations. So while the scrappy production values keep us from taking the film seriously, its message sneaks in undercover.

themes, language, violence 22.Sep.23

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