My Spy

I had quite a good time at times, but let's face it, the central plot that underpins the whole story is pretty stupid. The first ten minutes of the film irritated me so much that I felt like giving up. The rescue came in the form of the adorable Chloe Coleman and the witty Kristen Schaal. Then I even enjoyed former professional wrestler Dave Bautista, who turned out to be quite likable in the end. Thanks to the brisk pace, the awkward moments are forgivable, but I can't get over the predictability of the plot. (55%) (03/04/2021)

Every action star has his family-oriented film with comedic elements, and Dave Bautista is certainly no exception. My Spy is a generally unpretentious outing that combines action, humour and relationships, which it manages to do quite well in places, though there are a few downright silly to slightly embarrassing parts, but that's just part of the genre. The biggest comic draw was, without a doubt, Kristen Schaal, whose remarks and interactions with weapons were seriously flawless. Bautista is a likable character despite his tough exterior, little Chloe Coleman wasn't noticeably annoying, as is usually the case with child characters, and Ken Jeong kept his head down a lot this time around. The screenwriters had prepared a minor plot twist (good guys vs. bad guys), but they still missed something from time to time (Pripyat in Russia, the camera in the outdoor restaurant, the dance scenes). But I had a good laugh while watching it, and that's essential in a comedy. (11/20/2020)

Watching this film made me think of Leon and Kindergarten Cop, the first one as something this film could only look up to in admiration, while maintaining a clear advantage over the latter. I admit that if it weren't for the last quarter, I would have added an extra star, but it just wasn’t possible. Dave Bautista isn’t likely to become a great actor, but I don't even expect him to. I enjoyed his performance in Stuber, as well as in this film. I was really surprised (in a good way) by Chloe Coleman. My attitude to children in film is not exactly favorable, but the character of Sophie was well-written and well-played. She got past my initially dismissive attitude as quickly as she got past the ogre in training (poor Blueberry). Despite the disappointing final act, it put me in a good mood. 3*+ (12/01/2020)

I wasn't too keen on this film, but once I found out that the guy who did The Longest Yard was directing it, I gave it a chance and I'm surprised at how good and entertaining My Spy ended up being. Dave Bautista may not be the best actor, but he has charisma and his humor is great. Kristen Schaal is a very unlikeable woman, but she fits well here and didn't get in the way too much. But the biggest draw of the whole movie is 11 year old Chloe Coleman, who is not only incredibly cute (I'm already writing the adoption papers) but also acts great (Avatar 2 is no fluke), and makes the movie very touching and emotional. I also liked the music, the wisecracks are fine, and actually the romantic line has energy, and the final action packed half hour was properly suspenseful. There are also a few references to spy movies, which I take as a plus. I had a royally good time and My Spy is a big surprise for me. Story***, Action***, Humor****, Violence>No, Entertainment****, Music****, Visuals***, Atmosphere**, Suspense****.8/10. (04/30/2020)