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 |
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. Written by Anonymous
Another Hollywood offering based on the time honoured principle of remaking classic TV shows to guarantee financial returns. However, unlike some that still managed to flop, I Spy for the most part delivers.
The story is typical Bond-style spy action: Someone has stolen a top secret invisible plane from the American government and is selling it on the black market, and it's up to our heroes to get it back. The story is secondary to the comedy in this movie, mostly between its two stars - Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson. Murphy reprises his wise-cracking sidekick role, last seen in Shrek. Instead of a talking donkey though, this time he is a world-champion boxer. If you can with-hold your disbelief of this concept for ninety minutes his performance is fairly enjoyable. At times there is a glimpse of great chemistry between his egotistical celebrity and Wilson's downtrodden spy in love.
Unfortunately this is a movie that suffers from an identity crisis: Is this a spy thriller with jokes, or is it an all out spoof of the genre? Because of this the movie falls somewhat uncomfortably between the two, with long periods with no jokes at all followed by hilarious set-pieces.
Having said all this, I Spy is still fairly entertaining, and if you're just looking for a film to fill a friday evening you could do a lot worse than to choose this one.