Just as it all begins, Sophie uncovers the undercover operation and blackmails the JJ and Bobbi into being a part of the operation. To further complicate things, JJ starts a friendship with target Kate, and feelings develop, familial bonds are formed. Things get complicated.
Look, I loved My Spy mainly because of my fandom for the “Animal” Dave Bautista, as well as Schaal and Jeong. The action is decent, but the spy plot goes by fast and child star watching Chloe Coleman is like watching puppy dogs and kittens on the internet. Director Peter Segal knows what strings to pull to elevate the cuteness factor, and he pulls them hard. It’s all good, actiony fun, when you need a moment to unplug your brain. Even though you’ve seen this all before in other cop buddy movies, it works.
“It’s all good, actioney fun, when you need a moment to unplug your brain.”
Most of the humor of the film comes in the slapstick variety. The trailers already spoiled the ice skating shenanigans, but Bautista gets his fair share of blows to the head and silly pratfalls. What’s surprising is the comedic chemistry between Schaal and Bautista. You could not have two more opposite characters and still mine some brilliant humor between the two.
I need to address a marketing problem the film faces. Children are going to love My Spy. Bautista and Coleman are cute and adorable together, and their evolving relationship just works for the younger set. That said, the film has a hard PG-13 with a vast amount of violence, swearing, and taking the Lord’s name in vain for those in the Bible belt. I took my daughter to see My Spy, and with every utterance of the s-word, my Spidey-senses tingled, followed by a worried “ruh-roh. Mom’s not going to like this.” I’m so in the dog house. I mention this because if you’re going to take your kids, don’t be fooled by the cute advertising, know what you’re getting them and yourself into.
My Spy is the perfect next vehicle for Dave Bautista’s movie career. He continues to hone his acting chops in a genre made for him…first action, then comedy. His relationship with co-star Chloe Coleman is at the heart of the film. Your kids are going to love it, and you’ll have a good time to…until that awkward conversation during the car ride home.
"…most of the humor of the film comes in the slapstick variety."
