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

The boy in the logo for Troublemaker Studios (director Robert Rodriguez' production company) is named Pepino, which the name means "cucumber" in Spanish.

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Goofs

Reflected in the mini spy plane beside Carmen is a man holding a white screen.

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Quotes

Fegan Floop: We have to keep the army from leaving the castle. Our only chance is to get to the control room and hope that their missions have not been programmed.
Ingrid Cortez: And what if they have?
Fegan Floop: Then there's no one on Earth who can stop them.

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Crazy Credits

Asides from the Dimension Films and Troublemaker Studios logos, there are no opening credits beyond the title.

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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

References The Matrix (1999)

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Soundtracks

Floop's Song
Written by Danny Elfman
Performed by Alan Cumming (uncredited)

User Reviews

Take your kids to see it. It's very good and needs to be seen on the big screen.

I took my two boys (7 and 10) to see Spy kids today. They were transfixed and wanted to watch it again straightaway. Both are big James Bond fans but some of the content and dialogue of the Bond movies isn't suitable. Spy Kids fits the bill exactly for anyone under 13 who likes the Bond films. It came over to me as a blend of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory meets Home Alone meets Bond. It was at the kids level without patronizing them and was believable enough for adults to enjoy too. All of the acting was high quality and the special effects first class.

I shall enjoy it again in the future on video but it deserves to be seen on the big screen first. Another bonus were the trailers for Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone. I often come away from Cinema trips with the kids feeling that we haven't really had our moneys worth, but not today!