Film Forum

U.S., 2001
Written and directed by Robert Rodriguez
Starring Alexa PenaVega, Daryl Sabara, Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino, Alan Cumming
Approx. 88 min.

“Ingrid (Gugino) and Gregorio Cortez (Banderas), semi-retired government spies, are called back to the ranks following the demise of their erstwhile colleagues at the hands of kids’ puppet-show host and techno wizard Feban Floop (Cumming) and his assorted army. Ingrid and Gregorio disappear and the Cortez children (PenaVega and Sabara) have to don the jet-packs, slide on the computer specs, and save the world. One-time rebel director Robert (El Mariarchi) Rodriguez treads a neat line, reversing a common (and mistaken) emphasis in kids’ movies. He plays the danger/adventure lightly, and treats the garish design, environments, effects, and various gadgets with the gravitas demanded by the young connoisseur.” – Time Out

Reviews

“As a piece of almost dadaist filmmaking, SPY KIDS is great fun with its continual spirit of invention.”
– Stephen Hunter, Washington Post

“A TREASURE.”
– Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

“[The film has a] jaunty spirit and a few bits of weirdness worthy of Roald Dahl.”
– Edward Porter, The Times (UK)