Title: Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World
Directed by: Robert Rodriguez
Starring: Jessica Alba, Jeremy Piven and Joel McHale
Running time: 89 minutes, PG, Available on standard DVD and 3D
A retired spy gets called back into her old job when her nemesis Tick Tock escapes from prison to help an evil mastermind named The Timekeeper, just as she is getting used to new mommyhood and bonding with her two stepchildren.
I am not a fan of the Spy Kids series, in fact I still think Spy Kids 3:Game Over is one of the worst movies I have ever seen. Spy Kids 4 doesn’t make me want to jam a screwdriver into my eye like its predecessor, but it’s still an irritating kid flick. How many fart jokes can one fit in one movie? I lost count after 5 in the first half hour. Jessica Alba does the best she can with the material, although she and Joel Mchale didn’t seem like they were comfortable with their characters. His part especially was way over the top, and what’s the point of being a “Spy Hunter” anyway? Seriously, who would watch that show? The kids characters were just regurgitated from the previous films, however giving the brother a disability was an interesting twist; but they could’ve focused more on that he was hearing impaired and how his other heightened senses made him special over the gadgets, because then what would be the point in even giving him a disability?
The special features include several deleted scenes, a kid interviewing Robert Rodriguez, a home movie shot by the new spy kids Mason Cook & Rowan Blanchard, a featurette with Ricky Gervais as the voice of Argonaut, and a featurette “Passing of the Torch” with Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara-who is hardly recognizable since the last Spy Kids film.
I am fully aware that as an adult, I’m not the target audience for this type of film; whether I liked it or not is irrelevant. I’m pretty positive that kids will find the pranks hilarious, the gadgets exciting and many will love the robot dog. My condolences go out to the parents who will be forced to watch this film over and over again with their children, because the corny jokes and gross-out humor get old real quick.
Total Rating: C
Reviewed by: JM Willis
