I Spy (2002)

User Rating:

5.3/10   

Director:

Betty Thomas

Writers (WGA):

Morton S. Fine (characters) &
David Friedkin (characters) ...

Release Date:

1 November 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Thriller

Tagline:

Attitude meets espionage

Plot:

Based on the 1960's television series I Spy. A professional athlete (boxer - Eddie Murphy) has to help a U.S. government agent recover a missing jet.

Plot Keywords:

Spy | Boxing | Espionage | Top Secret | Parody

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

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

Also Known As:

I-Spy (USA) (promotional title)

MPAA:

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

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Hungarian | Russian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Finland:K-11 | Iceland:12 | Malaysia:U | Canada:13+ | USA:PG-13 (No.38103) | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | Canada:PG | France:U | Germany:12 | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:M | Norway:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:15 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:12A (cut)

Filming Locations:

Buda Castle, Budapest, Hungary

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The characters from the TV series are reversed in this film version. In the original TV series, Kelly Robinson (not Alexander Scott) was the white guy and the athlete, while Alexander Scott was the black guy and the non-athlete. In both cases, however, the Bill Cosby /Eddie Murphy character was a less experienced spy than the Robert Culp /'Owen Wilson' character.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Boxer/announcer Bobby Czyz's name is misspelled in the credits as 'Bobby Cyze'.

Quotes:

Kelly: I'm 57 and 0 baby.

Movie Connections:

References Nine 1/2 Weeks (1986)

Soundtrack:

Let's Talk About Sex (Ez legalább szex)

Nice and sometimes funny

I had to decide: go and see Sweet Home Alabama, or go and see I Spy? I took the decision I took, because I like Owen Wilson and I also like Eddie Murphy, so I thought, in the case in which the movie would be worth nothing, I'd still get to see some friendly faces. I'm pleased I can say it was about what I expected.

I put this movie in two categories, and I think I placed it right: it's a nice comedy, with parts of what tries to be an action movie. The main part is, in my opinion, or tried to be, the comedic part. You will get to laugh at some scenes, but unfortunately not as much as you'd like to laugh at a comedy.

The story isn't something really new, but it has quite a few plot twists which can become funny. The funny character is Kelly, who really beats up all his opponents, but he is just such a smart guy, that it can actually make you laugh. It's always just about him, and him and him...

The actors have their charm and I won't really go into this as most people have seen at least one of them in other movies. Wilson could've been a little more convincing, but he's quite the same character in all the movies I've seen with him.

The special effects could've been better, as the explosions weren't really amazing...it's too bad.

Budapest looked great though, and I am happy to see such a beautiful city is to be seen in movies. It's worth it.

The film isn't great, but it's OK...no "brilliant" ideas, or anything like that, just the usual comic stuff.