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COMEDY, people, not action

It mystifies me how somebody can go see something like this, withinvisible planes and boxers as spies and Famke Jannsen as a sex-bombAmazon spy-lady, and expect it to be a serious action movie. EVERYSINGLE MOMENT of this movie is comedy writing. The action is pure comedyaction, more like NAKED GUN than 48 HOURS. If somebody criticizes thismovie for having HOLES in the PLOT, then you know they are WAY OFF BASE,and are trying to watch a completely different type of movie. Thesepeople have nobody to blame but themselves, because it's pure spoof fromthe very beginning, with Owen Wilson's Uzbeck misadventure and the wayhe looks over the other spy's equipment. The ending is obviously a spoofof spy movie endings, and even the heroes admit onscreen to beingconfused. THIS IS A JOKE. It did strike me as strange that so silly amovie had a $70,000,000 budget. Maybe the studio wanted to wish it intobeing a real action movie, and, hoping to earn action movie box-office,misleadingly sold it that way. As an action movie, it sucks. As a spoof,it's a hoot

Funny S***!

This movie was just "okay", but would have been "excellent" if it weren't for the meddling interference of something known as `plot.' Without the `plot', I Spy would have only been about 45 minutes long, but it would have been about 245% better. Just give me Owen Wilson and Eddie Murphy bantering back and forth about women and cock size and I'm happy.The `plot', which I'm told is an integral part of most films, is laughable if not downright s****y. Alex Scott (Wilson) is a government agent assigned to search for an invisible spy plane and fly it home. To be really clever and un- governmenty, his agency decides to pair him up with a civilian, the cocky Kelly Robinson (Murphy), a championship boxer and all-around pimp for the ages.Let the hilarity ensue!And ensue it does. Hysterical slap-stick comedy and raunchy buddy humor make I Spy a great movie (to rent) and one of the best comedies ever to feature a black man and a white man and Famke Janssen.Come to think of it, though, the `plot' is pretty funny in its own right. Just wait until a Chinese criminal asks the guy from Clockwork Orange if the plane is `really invisible' (hold your horses, it is!!). You'll be literally sitting camly on your seat and kind of chuckling. And when the love interest (Janssen) pulls a switcheroo, you might just not pee your pants.Funny for sure. But unfortunately, the funniest scene is the `Sexual Healing' duet that features prominently in every teaser, trailer and commercial.

Funny and entertaining.

A very light action/comedy movie which everyone could enjoy. This is not the best comedy movie, but it sure is very light and entertaining overall. If you like those light comic spy movies which contains some action, this one is probably one of the best there is. Rent it and watch it. You'll see what I'm talkin' about.

Worst bad guys ever, and terrible fight scenes

I'll never get that hour and a half back. The bad guys were laughable, and the few guys in the film that were supposed to be great fighters made me laugh out loud. If the film was released as a spoof then it would have been great.

A whole lot better than I expected

Taking the bad with the good, this movie is a lot LESS formulaicand a lot BETTER written than most of these star-pairing films. And I was completely surprised to find Famke Jannsen, who isalways a big plus, in a prominent but unadvertised roll. The bestthing about it was the intelligently written subtle humor buried inthe dialogue. Lots of funny stuff in there if you're listening for it. Superspy Wilson does the standard grab-the-civilian,
jump-off-the-roof, land-on-the-tent gig, but then he lies there andsays, "Are your legs numb?" The story line was plenty adequate,the humor ranged from very broad to delightful, and I am glad tosay Eddie Murphy was once again a joy to watch. He was back tohis good old days in a lively and rapid-fire performance. His cocky,egotistical boxing champ was pulled off to perfection, even whenOwen Wilson finally had to kick his ass in a scene which I washoping for and glad to get. Overall, I liked it.

I Spy-Owen and Eddie Are Great

Wow! I Spy, was a virtually pointless film, but rather entertaining and quite hilarious and comical. This film had an acceptable, decent and civilized plot, about a sophisticated Air Force stealth bomber which Wilson's character, Secret Agent Alex Scott must pinpoint. He must work with a civilian, who turns out be Eddie Murphy, who plays a professional boxer named, Kelly Robinson. From here we get simple and fairly understated violence and action sequences as well as humorous jokes and gags.

I Spy is rated PG-13 for Action Violence, Some Sexual Content and Language. Directed by Betty Thomas, who has made hilarious comedies in the past, such as The Nutty Professor. This film is essentially an Eddie Murphy film, for he is the one that will truly make you laugh and giggle. As for Owen Wilson, well he's pretty funny and simple, yet not dull, insipid and/or apathetic. Famke Janseen costars, as Wilson's supposed lover, and yet she's actually something else. The film is great and funny! I loved it, and you can too. I Spy, is very irrelevant to the 1960's TV show, except for the name of the film and the two characters, a white male and a black male. The action is somewhat unrealistic, impractical and tacky. The film's humor and language and become rather abysmal and irritating for some, but I enjoyed it. I Spy, in theatres everywhere November 1, 2002.

A Product of the Marketing Age of Cinema

There were times during I Spy when I wanted to laugh just to give the actors some credit for forcing themselves to remain energetic through a movie that we've all seen no less than fifty thousand times. I'd wait for a joke or a bumbling comedic action and I'd bust out with a half-hearted guffaw, but in the end I felt ashamed for laughing at all.I Spy, the new action-comedy buddy film that finds secret agent Alexander Scott (Owen Wilson) teaming up with boxing superstar Kelly Robinson (Eddie Murphy) to solve a fiendish plot involving a camouflage plane, is yet another product of what I like to call the Marketing Age of Cinema. Some studio execs sat around brainstorming and thought that this would be a good moneymaker. So they set about to hire the talent, create the CGI effects, promote and market the concept .and then two weeks before filming was to begin, they also hired a screenwriter. That's the problem here. The screenwriter is just connecting the dots, making sure they have something to film.It's strange how many times Columbia Pictures (Sony) has followed this business plan this year alone, and to record-breaking box office results (Spider-Man, Men in Black II, xXx, Stuart Little 2, Mr.Deeds). Sometimes the film turns out to be decent, like Spider-Man, but in the case of I Spy, it's painfully easy to see the quick profit mentality of the producers.Was this a bad film? Not really. But just avoiding the stigma of being a `bad film' doesn't automatically throw you into `good film' territory. Owen Wilson gives the film a great comedic lead; he's always mumbling or trailing off when he talks, taking dialogue that in other hands would likely be ridiculous, but in his hands is genuinely funny. Eddie Murphy does the best he can with his role, but he's really not given much to work with. His character, the arrogant `I refer to myself in the third person' Kelly Robinson, usually just rambles about how he is the greatest boxer in history, etc. All Murphy can do is dance around and try to make us remember some of his finer roles.The story for a film like this is about as original as a romance novel. The United States Government needs this boxing champ because he's apparently got some sort of match in Europe, and he's invited to some giant mansion for dinner, and the guys that invited him are involved in an international.am I really bothering to write this?Comedies have never really been the sort of genre where audiences complain about story. They just come to the theater to laugh. But, since I wasn't laughing during this film, I actually had time to pay attention to its preposterous plot.I certainly hope that I Spy doesn't become a film franchise, as I'm sure its creators are betting it will. `Eddie Murphy! Owen Wilson!' they can probably hear already, the deep movie trailer voice rumbling in the theater. `From the makers of the first hilarious adventure! They're back, and badder than ever! I Spy Part Two!' Every sentence an exclamation, every scene in the trailer a one-liner punctuated with an explosion.Ahh, the Marketing Age of Cinema. The lengths that some studios will go to make some money. The only thing worse than a bad sequel to a good original movie is any sort of sequel to a bad original movie.

haha

it is fun funny movie it makes me want to be a spy. it so cool

Unless your thinking of visiting Budapest, this is not worth the time

Another pretty lame sidekick movie from two actors who are normally very good. The problem is that Owen Wilson does Owen Wilson very well and Eddie Murphy does Eddie Murphy just as well, but all with very few actual jokes. Interesting to see it filmed on location in Budapest as, at the time of writing this review, I had just visited the city and was pleased to see many of the sights I had visited just weeks before. Other than this the excitement, which should be top draw for a spy movie (even a spoof one), never really appeared and both script and plot are thin and poor. Wilson and Murphy do well playing themselves with very little to work with but I doubt they'll be listing it as one of their career best. If you want spoof espionage stick to Austin Powers.

Been there, seen that

What is this new fad with making Hollywood movies out of old TV shows? Mission Impossible, Wild Wild West and now this. They just don't work out well; updates rarely work, unless the subject matter is timeless. The biggest problem with the remakes is that instead of referencing the original series, they try to make them hip and cool, using pop icons and throwing in as much action and as many explosions as they can jam in. MI actually screwed the fans of the series over; WWW managed to make a fairly cool premise really lame; and this also does a somewhat poor job of remaking the series. The film comes off as more of a parody of spy flicks rather than a buddy-comedy with spy-stuff. Personally, I'm fine with that, as I hate the regular James Bond-like spy films with ludicrous gadgets and such, but I can imagine many people expecting the latter kind of film were disappointed. The plot is decent... it's not original in the least, but maybe it isn't supposed to be. The pacing is fair. The acting is fine. The characters are somewhat well-developed and interesting. The humor is pretty good, with only a few gags and jokes falling flat. The casting is quite good... Malcolm McDowell is perfect as the villain, and Gary Cole is inspired as the Latino super-agent. Too bad neither of them have enough to do in the film. Famke Janssen is mesmerizing, but that's no surprise. Obviously, it's carried by Murphy and Wilson, and they do a good job, I suppose. Murphy is refreshingly funny and energetic here... haven't seen him in this good shape for a long, long time. Wilson is amusingly pathetic and loser-like as usual, and it works well. All in all, a pretty average buddy-comedy/spy-spoof, but fair if you're a fan of one or more of the actors in the film. I recommend it only to the biggest fans of one or more actors involved. 5/10

Eddie Murphy's still got it

I Spy was down right funny. Eddie Murphy was an absolute cut up in the film. He is at his best when he is allowed to ramble, because you have no clue what he is about to say next.It seems that Eddie was given license to be a little bit liberal with his lines. Without a doubt, if Eddie Murphy were not in this movie it would be a total failure.The movie barely held its own with the plot, the action, and Owen Wilson. Eddie propelled it from mediocrity to respectability. There aren't many comedians or actors in general that can give life to a movie the way Eddie can.

90 minutes of fun and entertainment

I thought I Spy was a great movie. Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson have great chemistry. Murphy is hilarious as Kelly Robinson, the undefeated boxing champion. It was very funny- especially the "Marvin Gaye Scene". It also had some good action, but the comedy is still present. I want to see it again. Go out and see it if you need some time to kill. It is a very short film.

Entertaining, But Murphy's Act Getting Old

This is a re-make of sorts, not from a movie but from a television series that made history when Bill Cosby became the first black actor to star (or co-star) in a regular TV show. He and Robert Culp played in the show of the same name.Here, Eddie Murphy plays Cosby's role and Owen Wilson takes over Culp's character. As funny as Murphy has been over his film career, I, for one, have gotten tired of his loud and abrasive characters. It's getting tiresome. Even in the animated hit, "Shrek," Murphy was loud, too talkative and obnoxious. He can't seem to get away from that kind of character. Wilson was more likable in this film and Famke Janssen was interesting.There are a few wild action scenes in here and this film is played strictly for two things: comedy and action. Another thing: it should have been rated "R," not PG-13. Overall, the story is lame but it is entertaining so, for that, it's worth a rental.

Funny stuff, check it out!

A U.S. Military airplane that can cloak itself has been stolen by an international arms dealer (Malcolm McDowell) whose passion is championship boxing. Secret Agent Alexander Scott (played by Owen Wilson), must use civilian World Heavyweight boxer Kelly Robinson (played by Eddie Murphy) for cover to find the plane.
Secret Agent Scott is a good agent, but is known for screwing things up. Kelly Robinson is the Heavyweight champion of the world, with 57 straight knockouts under his belt. He is proud, and intimidating. .
Wilson and Murphy a great comedic chemistry. they are both hilarious. I see alot of movies and the "Sexual Healing" scene had more out loud laughs than I have seen by an audience in a long, long time. Don't let THE SANTA CLAUSE 2 continue to beat this film at the box office. Thi should be the champ, go out there and make it so!

Funnier Than You Might Think

I Spy is the sort of movie you enjoy in spite of your better instincts. You know the plot is incoherent and embarrassingly banal. You recognize that the action sequences are unconvincing and poorly paced. You sense that not one original idea ever entered the minds of director Betty Thomas, her four screenwriters or the head honchos at Sony Pictures during the conception and production of this entire enterprise. And yet you laugh, because there is something goofily entertaining about two of America's best comedic actors stumbling and bumbling through a good old fashion spy spoof. The fact that the stars have such wonderful chemistry legitimizes your positive reaction. A little.

The leading players are, of course, Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson, who provide the film with a sense of energy and fun that it probably doesn't deserve. Murphy, who appears as obnoxious boxer turned secret agent Kelly Robinson, has lost none of his impeccable timing and inimitable style to age or a recent string of unsuccessful films. Given only assorted rants and dictionary full of curse words to work with, the man uses his vocal mannerisms and body language to wring laugh after laugh out of stale dialogue (and turns in one of the best renditions of "Sexual Healing" you're likely to hear). Wilson is equally engaging as bumbling special agent Alexander Scott, winning pathos and belly laughs as he attempts to win the girl and properly activate his spy gizmos. As these two pros traipse through Hungry, attempting to foil the diabolical scheme of the insidious and thoroughly wasted Malcolm McDowal, one can almost forget that they are watching something formulaic and get lost in the effective repartee and humorous battles of one-upmanship among the leads.

The television series on which this movie is based broke new ground in the 1960's by presenting an African-American (a young Bill Cosby) as a dignified and dramatic leading man. The goals of this film are considerably lower, but it is consistently hilarious and only worth two hours of your life. In today's film environment, you could do far worse.

Very underrated movie

This movie has gotten horrible, scathing reviews from most critics and seems to be thought of poorly by fans too, but I don't get it. To me, I-Spy was a fun, witty and clever movie. Eddie Murphy was actually tolerable for the first time since Bowfinger, and Owen Wilson's mumbly humor and dry wit was very effective. There were some great sly running jokes, dealing with Carlos and Alex's inferiority complex. The premise was a stereotypical "terrorists with dangerous weapons" setup, but it was competently done and easily overlooked. Normally I'm left scratching my head when movies like XXX and Charlie's Angels do well at the box office, but in this case, I don't understand why this movie didn't do better, at the box office and with the critics. This is a pretty damn good movie, with appealing actors and interesting action sequences. One of the more underrated movies I've seen.

Just a run of the mill spy comedy

I haven't seen the original 60's TV series, so I can't compare it to this movie. The movie itself is just a run of the mill spy comedy, pairing unlike partners Owen Wilson and Eddie Murphy. This movie is highly unbelievable, has a plot that is meaningless...yet, it's not a complete waste. There are a few moments between the characters that are entertaining. That's not nearly enough though. The premise that the government would use a boxer as an agent is silly. Not sure why the rush on these type of films, because none of them have been very good. I Spy, Bad Company, Showtime are all interchangeable...and generally not worth the price of admission.** (Out of 4)

SPOILER ALERT!!! Hold onto your hats, plug your ears, and prepare to sing, "I can't hear you. La, la, la, la ,la, la!.

Eddie Murphy making a turkey is understandable. I've seen him do it a number of times to know that he isn't Box Office Gold--at least not like he was back in the late '80s and early '90s, but come on, man! What were you thinking messing up one of the COZ's classic shows? Now I know from "RAW" that you could give a rat's pa-toot what Bill Cosby says or thinks about what you do, but dude! How could you defile his disrespect his legacy by starring in a feature-length remake of this piece of trash, and with Owen Wilson of all people? Owen Wilson? That makes that stoner Dell Dude look like Johnny Depp.And what was with the over-played double-crosses? Could we have at least one spy movie without a seductive harridan faking her death only to emerge from the shadows and gratuitously tie up her ex-partner and kick himin the groin? How about letting the bad guy get away once in awhile?The plot was hard enough to believe as it was. I mean, come on, like the chick who played Jean Grey would have anything to do with Owen Wilson--even on a femme fatale level. Give me a break.Speaking of Famke, Famke, Famke, what the hell were you thinking? This is the cheesiest project you could have ever undertaken. You in "Taxi," another certified gobble-fest by the way, I can see, but this? Ugh! I hope you took 50 showers, and brushed your teeth 75 times after shooting wrapped.

A great surprise!

What a good time I had watching this movie. I've watched it for the fourth time this week and it keeps getting better. Quick witted, good chemistry between Eddie Murphy & Owen Wilson, exciting chase scenes -- just a lot of fun. Don't listen to the critics on this one or you'll miss a great couple of hours.

The Real Deal

I Spy is the real deal . Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson are an hilarious team. They keep a smile on your face the whole movie. The serious side and the comedian's point of view collaborate perfectly. Just take my word for it, rent this movie and you'll love it!