After a rather rickety, visually unstunning snowy
mountain scene, "I Spy" takes a ride on a funky beat
and never looks back. The repartee rapport between
rambling, underdog spy, Alex Scott (Wilson) and
world-champion boxer Kelly Robinson (Murphy) is
entertainment enough. Btw, frisky verbal wrestle is
just about the only thing this film has in common
with the TV series of the same name. That Robert
Culp/Bill Cosby chemistry reprising well here, while
Wilson and Murphy bring their own twists to a fun,
light, playful game of spy.
Director Betty Thomas tells us that Owen Wilson
was responsible for conceiving the Carlos character
(Gary Cole). Sort of a 007 spoof who has all the best
spy toys and gets all the women while Alex whines,
"My stuff looks like you got if from Radio Shack in
1972." Actually, Betty also mentioned Steven Seagal
as her first choice for that role; hence, Gary Cole's
ponytail.
Perhaps the film's funniest moments (they
certainly had our audience in stitches) allowed Eddie
and Owen to do what they do best, play together and
just be funny. The sewer scene provides a moment to
bond, Kelly reminisces, "My grandmother, she was the
sweetest woman, she gave me my first jab in the
face." Alex commiserates, "Yeah, no one takes the
time anymore."
Somewhat less hard-hitting at the start and
finish, but a whole lot of fun and funny in the
middle, "I Spy" will get you laughing. And If you end
up liking the wry comedy of Owen Wilson as much as
myself, check out "Shanghai Noon," his
pairing with Jackie Chan proves just as much, if not
more amusing.
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