The Spy Next Door (2010)

Former C.I.A. spy Bob Ho takes on his toughest assignment to date: looking after his girlfriend's three kids, who haven't exactly warmed to their mom's beau.

Director:

Brian Levant

Writers:

Jonathan Bernstein (screenplay), James Greer (screenplay)

Stars:

Jackie Chan, Amber Valletta, Billy Ray Cyrus

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jackie Chan	...	Bob Ho
Amber Valletta	...	Gillian
Madeline Carroll	...	Farren
Will Shadley	...	Ian
Alina Foley	...	Nora
Magnús Scheving	...	Anton Poldark (as Magnus Scheving)
Billy Ray Cyrus	...	Colton James
George Lopez	...	Glaze
Katherine Boecher	...	Creel
Mia Stallard	...	Cute Girl
Maverick McWilliams	...	Chad
Quinn Mason	...	Carl
Margaret Murphy	...	Mom
Esodie Geiger	...	Principal
Arron Shiver	...	Scientist

Storyline

Former CIA spy Bob Ho takes on his toughest assignment to date: looking after his girlfriend's three kids (who haven't exactly warmed to their mom's beau). When one of the youngsters accidentally downloads a top-secret formula, Bob's longtime nemesis, a Russian terrorist, pays a visit to the family.

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Plot Keywords:

man wears eyeglasses | aerial camera shot | movie flop | cia central intelligence agency | slimehouse | 

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Taglines:

Spying is easy, babysitting is hard.

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Family

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for sequences of action violence and some mild rude humor

Did You Know?

Trivia

Towards the beginning of the movie, the aerial view of the mall they are in is actually an aerial view of the Potowatomi Bingo and Casino in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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Goofs

In the very beginning of the movie, Gillian tells Farren to put on jeans, and dresses Nora in pink. While getting in the minivan, Farren is wearing a skirt and Nora is wearing white.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Nora: Mom! Jethro's eating my underwear!
[pronounced 'unduweahw']

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Crazy Credits

Outtakes from the film play during the end credits.

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Connections

Referenced in Vampire Idol: Vampire Jean Valjean (2011)

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Soundtracks

Ba Ma De Hua
Written by Fai Chen and Xi Lin
Performed by Jackie Chan

User Reviews

Not a Jackie Chan fan but enjoyed it

Before taking the kids to see this, I read through some quick reviews online (such as RogerEbert.com, etc.), and groaned thinking about the 90 minutes or so I'd have to sit watching this...not to mention the annoying ads stuffed down your throat before the trailers even start.

You know, I'm not going to spend time trying to justify why I liked it, laughed at the corny scenes and dialog, slapstick, etc. - but the bottom line is I/we enjoyed it - despite it being a Chan film which usually I'll pass on. How refreshing not to get any propaganda thrown in your face, political innuendos/viewpoints - whatever, which unfortunately you have to bear in even many kids & 'family' films being pumped out these days ... just a basic family comedy which accomplishes its purpose - to simply entertain and nothing else. What's wrong with that, Mr. Ebert? I think you need to stay away from kids' films. Anyone?

So if you decide to see it, make your own judgment. The negative reviews I read before seeing it prepared me to expect the worst....which in turn actually helped it to be a quite a pleasant surprise. Go figure. So far I find it amusing how some of the reviewers on here spent so much time writing in detail how awful the film is, spending the time, space, and effort into dissecting & critiquing it as though it were the latest Coppola or Scorsese project. Who are they writing to? Those expecting a modern cinematic classic (via Jackie Chan) bringing them to standing applause ... or to parents like myself taking their kids out to have a little fun? Right! LOL.

Details

Official Sites:

Production Notes

Country:

USA

Language:

English Chinese Russian

Release Date:

15 January 2010 (USA)

Also Known As:

Spy Next Door

Filming Locations:

3518 Colina Serena Place NE, Rio Rancho, New Mexico, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$28,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$9,726,056, 17 January 2010

Gross USA:

$24,307,086

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$66,166,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Relativity Media, Robert Simonds Productions, Spy Next Door

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1