Spy Kids (2001)

The children of secret-agent parents must save them from danger.

Director:

Robert Rodriguez

Writer:

Robert Rodriguez

Stars:

Alexa PenaVega, Daryl Sabara, Antonio Banderas

2 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Antonio Banderas	...	Gregorio Cortez
Carla Gugino	...	Ingrid Cortez
Alexa PenaVega	...	Carmen Cortez (as Alexa Vega)
Daryl Sabara	...	Juni Cortez
Alan Cumming	...	Fegan Floop
Tony Shalhoub	...	Alexander Minion
Teri Hatcher	...	Ms. Gradenko
Cheech Marin	...	Felix Gumm
Robert Patrick	...	Mr. Lisp
Danny Trejo	...	Machete
Mike Judge	...	Donnagon / Donnamight
Richard Linklater	...	Cool Spy
Guillermo Navarro	...	Pastor
Johnny Reno	...	Agent Johnny
Shannon Shea	...	FoOglie #1 / Flower

Storyline

Gregorio and Ingrid are the two greatest secret agents the world has ever known: masters of disguise, mavens of invention, able to stop wars before they even start. Working for separate countries, they are sent to eliminate their most dangerous enemy...each other. But in an exotic corner of the world when they finally come face to face, they fall in love instead and embark on the most dangerous mission they have ever faced: raising a family. Now nine years later, after their retirement, having exchanged the adventure of espionage for parenthood, Gregorio and Ingrid Cortez are called back in to action. When their former colleagues, the world's most formidable spies, start disappearing one by one, the Cortez's are forced to take on techno-wizard Fegan Floop and his evil, egg-headed sidekick, Minion. But when the unthinkable happens and they too disappear, unfortunately there are only two people in the world who can rescue them...their kids.

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Plot Keywords:

machete cortez character | secret agent | rescue | spy | espionage | 

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Taglines:

Real Spies... only smaller

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Family | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for action sequences

Details

Official Sites:

Bac Films [France] (French) Miramax [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

30 March 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Spy Kids

Filming Locations:

Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$35,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$26,546,881, 1 April 2001, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$112,719,001

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$147,934,180

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dimension Films, Troublemaker Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX SDDS DTS-ES

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Shot over a period of 10 weeks.

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Goofs

There is a visible line where the latex of Minion's prosthetic hand ends and his real fingers begin.

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Quotes

Ingrid Cortez: Remember when we could sense danger a mile away?
Gregorio Cortez: Those were the days.
Ingrid Cortez: Yeah.

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Crazy Credits

After the credits, we see one more panning shot of one of the hallways in Floop's castle.

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Alternate Versions

A longer version of the film, titled "Spy Kids: Special Edition" was re-issued in US theaters on August 8, 2001. It contained a new scene involving a cave full of sleeping sharks. The scene was always intended to be in the movie, but the original budget did not allow for the special effects needed. After the movie was a hit, Rodriguez was able to complete the scene. This scene was not included in the DVD release of the film, which featured the original theatrical version. However, this scene is available on the Blu-ray.

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Connections

Referenced in The Good, the Bad & the Bloody: Inside KNB EFX (2004)

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Soundtracks

Los Robotos
Written by Marcel Rodriguez and Robert Rodriguez

User Reviews

Good film, especially for what it is

This is a somewhat unusual film; it's a children's film, but it doesn't talk down to its audience. And as an added bonus, it can be watched even if you are over ten. As the far too little-known short Bedhead, Robert Rodriguez has here created a film for children, featuring children... which doesn't treat them with the lack of respect for the smarts and sense of logic that they do already possess. Adults often forget what children are like, and think of them as 'less' than the grownups. Rodriguez gives them(and us) a film that allows them a similar status to adults. The film has stuff that will appeal to kids(spy equipment hidden in children's things) but it isn't offensive to us who aren't. While it is more directed towards those of the preteen persuasion, it doesn't aim so low as to feel stupid for us who aren't of said persuasion. The plot is pretty good, though I guess it's not all that original... and as usual with children's films, the kids are the heroes, which puts too much pressure on them, as a Danish film critic so perfectly put it. The acting is a usual high(as most of the actors are quite talented), no performances really let you down, even the (intentionally)overplayed ones. The characters, many of them fairly clichéd and thin, are all credible. As with many(most) Rodriguez films, pretty much all of those that he's written, himself... there are subplots and such, many of which are either overly easily resolved or not properly addressed. The humor is pretty good, I laughed out loud several points, rather unusual for children's films, and I was never insulted by the humor. None of it tries too hard to garner laughs, either. The special effects are quite impressive, and though it's still evident that it's Rodriguez' mini studio, it will fool you for the very most part. The action is quite intense and exciting, and like the humor, it's got Rodriguez' unique touch. Any fan of Rodriguez(such as myself, which is by far the main reason I watched this very film in the first place) will enjoy this, if maybe not to the same extent as one of his typical films. I recommend this to any fan of Rodriguez or any of the actors, and definitely most kids. Very much worth watching, even if you've outgrown childhood. Indulge your inner kid. 7/10