Film Review: I Spy (2002)
While Hollywood made many pointless remakes, some could fit such description more than others. Good example can be made on the feature films based on popular TV shows originally aired three or more decades ago. Their targetted audience happen to be middle age people or older, which is usually least likely to go to theatres and instead indulge in nostalgia in front of television screen. This, however, didn’t appear to discourage Hollywood from producing films like I Spy, 2002 action comedy directed by Betty Thomas.
The film is based on eponymous 1960s TV show starring Robert Culp and Bill Cosby. The plot, set in present day, begins when Alex Scott (played by Owen Wilson), emotionally insecure agent of Bureau of National Security is given a delicate task of locating “Switchblade” – technologically advanced stealth plane that allows its user to deliver nuclear and similar payload to any place on Earth without anyone noticing. The plane has been stolen from US Air Force and ended in the hands of Arnold Gundars (played by Malcolm McDowell), ruthless arms dealer who intends to sell it to the terrorists or rogue states. Gundars’ weak spot is his great love of boxing and upcoming high profile match in Budapest is good opportunity for Scott to infiltrate his organisation. He is to receive help from Kelly Robinson (played by Eddie Murphy), arrogant middleweight world boxing champion. Robinson does it reluctantly, because Scott’s lifestyle is completely different from his own and he can’t stand clumsy secret agent. But when they arrive to Budapest, both of their lives will be in danger and they will be forced to set their differences aside in order to survive.
Both Owen Wilson and Eddie Murphy are talented comedians and the idea to put them in the film together didn’t look unwise, following the success of Shanghai Noon, in which Wilson had created successful “buddy buddy” dynamics with Jackie Chan. In case of I Spy, however, this chemistry didn’t appear. The main reason might be in script written by a committee whose members apparently forgot that the most attractive content of comedies was humour. Even the more patient viewers would have to wait for a long time before finding any joke in this film that actually make them funny. What goes for humour are scenes in which Murphy’s characters repeats his name and scenes featuring Wilson’s character giving blank stare. Film looks even more disappointing when we consider that it was directed by Betty Thomas, former actress who has directed couple of effective comedies, like Private Parts, in her past. But she, will all of her talents, can’t rise above the script that is at times simply awful, and even dependable character actors like Malcolm McDowell or Gary Cole aren’t much help. As an action film, I Spy is simply forgettable and fares poorly even with most mediocre Hollywood works of the same genre. After predictable box office fiasco, I Spy sank into oblivion and, unlike the original TV series, it had more do it with its poor quality than with problematic personal conduct of one of its stars.
RATING: 2/10 (-)
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