I Spy (2002)

A professional athlete has to help a U.S. government agent recover a missing jet.

Director:

Betty Thomas

Writers:

Morton S. Fine (characters) (as Morton Fine), David Friedkin (characters)

Stars:

Eddie Murphy, Owen Wilson, Famke Janssen

2 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Eddie Murphy	...	Kelly
Owen Wilson	...	Alex
Famke Janssen	...	Rachel
Malcolm McDowell	...	Gundars
Gary Cole	...	Carlos
Phill Lewis	...	Jerry
Viv Leacock	...	T.J.
Keith Dallas	...	Lunchbox
Tate Taylor	...	Lieutenant Percy
Lynda Boyd	...	Edna
Bill Mondy	...	McIntyre
Larry Merchant	...	Vegas Commentator
Sugar Ray Leonard	...	Vegas Commentator
Jimmy Lennon Jr.	...	Vegas Ring Announcer
Joe Cortez	...	Vegas Referee

Storyline

When the Switchblade, the most sophisticated prototype stealth fighter created yet, is stolen from the U.S. government, one of the United States' top spies, Alex Scott, is called to action. What he doesn't expect is to get teamed up with a cocky civilian, World Class Boxing Champion Kelly Robinson, on a dangerous top secret espionage mission. Their assignment: using equal parts skill and humor, catch Arnold Gundars, one of the world's most successful illegal arms dealers, and foil his treacherous plans for the plane.

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Plot Keywords:

stealth | boxer | top secret | espionage | spy | 

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Taglines:

Get another field of view

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for action violence, some sexual content and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

While Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson did some of their own stunts, stunt coordinator Brent Woolsey imported half a dozen crackerjack stuntmen from the U.S., and another eighteen from Hungary, which presented him with another challenge, the language barrier. Instead of explaining stunts once or twice, it required five or six go-rounds, in order to make sure that everyone was on the same page and there were no mishaps.

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Goofs

When Alex and Kelly are in the sewer they are wearing their bow ties. While they are opening up to each other their ties are off, but when they emerge from the sewer the ties are back on. Taking them off makes sense, but why put them back on again and smarten themselves up *before* climbing out?

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Quotes

Kelly Robinson: [they're running away after a mission gone wrong because of Kelly] You know, I was born semi-pyschic, and I had a bad hunch something was gonna happen in that room.
Alexander Scott: Then, why did you go into the room?
Kelly Robinson: I'm only semi-pyschic! I ain't Miss Cleo!

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Alternate Versions

The UK release has 1 second cut from the film (shot of a knife entering someone's leg and then being removed) to avoid a '15' rating.

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Connections

Referenced in I Spy: Cloak & Camouflage (2003)

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Soundtracks

You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)
Written by Willie Cobbs and Bo Diddley (as Ellas McDaniel)
Performed by Dawn Penn
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

This teaming could've been funnier

Every ten years or so, a comedy comes along that redefines Movie Comedy. Police Academy, Coming To America, Wayne's World & Austin Powers are some recent examples. This isn't another one.

It's fair to say I hadn't been as excited about the pairing of Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson since Pacino and DeNiro in "Heat". The movie seemed to have all the ingredients, but an ordinary script and the "max factor" of Kelly Robinson made sure this movie never reached it's potential. Don't get me wrong, there's a few gems, most notably when Eddie's character helps Owen pick up a woman and when the two have a brilliant heart-to-heart in a sewer. Unfortunately there's not enough of these moments and we're left wanting more. Still worth seeing though.

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Pictures - storyline and trailers

Country:

USA Hungary

Language:

English Hungarian Russian

Release Date:

1 November 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

I-Spy

Filming Locations:

Hungary

Box Office

Budget:

$70,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$12,752,803, 3 November 2002

Gross USA:

$33,561,137

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$51,386,477

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Tall Trees Productions, C-2 Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1