SPY KIDS: ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD (2011)

Genre: Action/Comedy/Adventure
Director: Robert Rodriguez
Cast: Jessica Alba, Joel McHale, Jeremy Piven, Antonio Banderas, Danny Trejo, Alexa Vega,  Daryl Sabara, Ricky Gervais
RunTime: 1 hr 29 mins
Released By: GV
Rating: PG
Official Website: http://www.spykidsmovie.net/

Opening Day: 1 September 2011

Synopsis:  On the surface, Marissa Cortez Wilson (Jessica Alba) has it all…married to a famous spy hunting television reporter, a new baby and intelligent twin step kids. But in reality, trying to mother Rebecca (Rowan Blanchard) and Cecil (Mason Cook), who clearly don’t want her around, is her toughest challenge yet. Also, her husband, Wilbur (Joel McHale), wouldn’t know a spy if he lived with one which is exactly the case – Marissa’s a retired secret agent. Marissa’s world is turned upside down when the maniacal Timekeeper (Jeremy Piven) threatens to take over the planet and she’s called back into action by the head ofOSS, home of the greatest spies and where the now-defunct Spy Kids division was created. With Armageddon quickly approaching, Rebecca and Cecil are thrust into action when they learn their boring stepmom was once a top agent and now the world’s most competitive ten year olds are forced to put their bickering aside and rely on their wits. With a little help from a couple of very familiar Spy Kids, Carmen (Alexa Vega) and Juni Cortez (Daryl Sabara), and some mind-blowing gadgets, they just may be able to save the world and possibly bring their family together while they’re at it.

Movie Review:

The movie experience is getting more fanciful with the advancements in movie technology, with the latest offering from the Spy Kids franchise promising a whole new movie experience with an additional dimension- Aromascope. Is it really as good as it promises? Well… there is some reservation on that.

In Spy Kids: All the Time in the World, Jessica Alba takes the role of a spy-mum, Marissa, who ridiculously fought and caught the baddie when she was 9 months into pregnancy. She thought after completing her last mission, she could retire peacefully and would be able to live a regular life with her newly-wed husband, an overenthusiastic father and local television presenter Wilbur (Joel McHale), and her stepchildren, Rebecca (Rowan Blanchard) and Cecil (Mason Cook). However, the Timekeeper is on the loose again. This time he is out to snatch all the time in the world (pun intended) with project Armageddon. Her stepchildren eventually got involved in this new launched mission to save the world from its devastation as the stepmother’s secret got revealed to them.

The cast, though not an A-star lineup, did a fair job at their roles, though there is nothing too spectacular or particularly impressive from their acting as well. Cameo appearances of the first spy kids, Carmen (Alexa Vega) and Juni Cortez (Daryl Sabara), give the audiences a little surprise midway. It also reminds you of the nostalgic good times in Spy Kids 2001 (if you had caught it when you were young). Kids really do grow up, don’t they?

Like any other family movies, Spy Kids: All the Time in the World is aimed at keeping the children fascinated and entertained. However, even with the extensive display of fancy gadgets, humorous hideous-looking talking dog and colorful backdrops, they can only manage to keep the children mildly entertained. The added dimension, Aromascope, is nothing but a flimsy trick of integrating the blunt plot with the smells (note: mostly pungent and self-administered). Though the added dimension of the movie is marketed as ‘FREE’, it is not really worth your time, money and effort. Even the kids don’t buy into it. Nonetheless, you can expect better 3D graphics. With the plethora of 3D movies available in the market and advancements in the 3D technology, this progress is only logical. Even though the budget for this spy kids film is not as generous as before, it does not compromise the quality of the picture. Kudos for that!

All in all, if you are looking for some wholesome family adventure with a good load of moral lessons to partake, you can probably skip this one. Two words can appropriately sum up the overall movie experience: time wasting.

Movie Rating:

(Keeps the children mildly entertained with some cheap humour. Other than that, nothing really noteworthy, not even the Aromascope)

Review by Tho Shu Ling