disappointment media
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • The Snake Hole
  • About

SPIES IN DISGUISE -- A Thrilling and Hilarious Spy Movie for Kids

12/17/2019

0 Comments

 
Review by Sean Boelman
Picture
Blue Sky Studios; TM and © 2019 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
The latest film from animation studio Blue Sky (the Ice Age series), Spies in Disguise is an energetic new action-comedy based on the short film Pigeon: Impossible. Thanks to a witty script and an excellent voice ensemble, this is a wonderful movie for families this holiday season and perhaps one of the biggest surprises of the year. 

The film follows a secret agent who, after being accused of going rogue, is turned into a pigeon by a young scientist and must stop the evil mastermind who has framed him. As one would expect, this plays out like a self-referential version of Mission: Impossible. Although the beats of the story aren’t remotely unpredictable, the silliness will keep the kiddos entertained and their older companions will be amused by the tongue-in-cheek approach.

Much of the movie’s humor is either slapstick or fish-out-of-water comedy, the latter of which is particularly hilarious. The idea of a wise-cracking secret agent turning into a pigeon is pretty ingenious, and the writers do a great job of milking that premise for all of its jokes without leaving it feeling like it has been worn too thin.

As is the case with many films aimed at younger audiences, the pacing can get to be a bit much at times, but the narrative momentum is frequently irresistible. By jumping from action sequence to action sequence as any live-action spy movie would jump from set piece to set piece, the film is successful both as a globe-trotting actioner and a parody of the genre.

​
Picture
Blue Sky Studios; TM and © 2019 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
A majority of the movie’s emotional arc comes from the scientist sidekick character voiced by Tom Holland, and while he is a necessary and effective part of the film, Will Smith’s secret agent often steals the show. An endlessly charming conglomeration of the traits of all of the best action movie spies, Lance Sterling is a compelling protagonist and audiences will likely be clamoring to see him in more avian adventures.

Smith’s casting as the arrogant hero who gets caught outside of his comfort zone is absolutely perfect. The amount of fun he is having voicing this character is evident, and it helps make the film a lot more enjoyable. Holland also does a very good job in his role, although there isn’t much comedy given to him. Other standouts include Ben Mendelsohn as the villain and Rashida Jones as an internal affairs agent chasing the protagonists. 

On a visual level, the animation is pretty strong, but one would expect no less from Blue Sky. Perhaps the best part of this film’s style is the world-building. Though there are some real-life points of reference, the animation for the movie’s settings is as amazing as the location scouting and set design for its live-action counterparts.

Spies in Disguise doesn’t have the most original storyline, but because of the unique approach that the filmmakers take to these familiar tropes, the result is immensely entertaining. It may have seemed unlikely that a film about pigeon spies would have been this good, but it is.

Spies in Disguise hits theaters on Christmas Day.

Rating: 4.5/5

​
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019

    Authors

    All
    Adam Donato
    Alan French
    Allison Brown
    Borja Izuzquiz
    Camden Ferrell
    Cole Groth
    Daniel Lima
    Dan Skip Allen
    Erin M. Brady
    Jonathan Berk
    Joseph Fayed
    Josh Batchelder
    Paris Jade
    Rafael Motamayor
    Sarah Williams
    Sean Boelman
    Tatiana Miranda

disappointment media

Dedicated to unique and diverse perspectives on cinema!
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • The Snake Hole
  • About