Customer Reviews

Agent Cody Banks (Special Edition)

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

In one sentence: This movie is 007, but the star is too young for the vodka martinis. He does, however, think of himself as Bond. "Banks, Cody Banks." A few minutes after that he's using his gadget to look through girl's clothing. OK, that's more than one sentence. Frankie Muniz stars as Cody Banks, a kid who was recruited into a CIA training camp a few years back. Now he's living at home, cleaning the guinea pig cages and riding a skateboard. He also has a problem with talking to girls.
Cody is happy when he's recruited by a hot CIA agent for his first mission. He's upset at first when his mission turns out to be: Make contact and establish a relationship with Natalie Connors, the daughter of Dr. Albert Connors. Dr. Connors has created nanobots, microscopic robots that eat away metal. He has been unwillingly supplying them to a Bond-like evil doer (Ian McShane), who plans to destroy communications networks, missile guidance control systems, etc. with the nanobots. Sure beats the Spy Kids stories in terms of Bondness. Also like Bond is the signature Bad Guy's Assistant with a Twist (Arnold Vosloo). This baddie, named Francois, is pretty unimaginative in terms of a cool talent (think of Oddjob and Jaws). His only odd features are: it appears as if someone once tried to cut his throat, and he has an odd hairstyle. Francois and his employer have been the subject of studies by the CIA, and Cody is sent to learn more about the nanobots. Cody initially makes a bad impression on Natalie (he can't remember if T.C Elliot is a man or a woman), but after saving her life, she invites him.
After accidentally blowing his cover at the party, Cody is taken off the mission, just as he actually begins to truly like Natalie.
Natalie comes by to visit him, but Francois and his goons kidnap Natalie and leave Cody unconscious. The climax occurs at the bad guy's mountain fortress, where Cody saves Natalie, sends Francois to the CIA, and destroys the bad guy and his fortress. Bond, I mean Banks, and his girl have a kiss, and the credits roll.
When I went to watch this with my 7-year old brother, he didn't understand some parts, like: Why do the nanobots only work on metal? Why would a three-year old boy suddenly start driving a car and lock the doors? Why was Cody's brother given such a huge bribe when he could have been bought off for 20$ easily? Why... Why... Why? Then again, my brother had not seen a Bond movie at that point. When we rented it, he got all of it, and he is now 8. This is great if you liked Spy Kids but think that the new Bond flicks aren't worth a dime. This is great if you're anybody, for Pete's sake. My only beef with this fun movie is: The Bad Guy. He exuded no menace. He was about as terrifying as Banks. He was just a man with an odd accent. Francois was something, though. And couldn't they have put a little more kung fu into it, seeing as they had that cool fight between Ronica and Banks and the fight by the pool? Judging by the trailer for the sequel, there'll be plenty of chop socky to go around.

2.5 stars

Films geared for teen audiences are often formulaic. Film studios seem to have a rather twisted idea that teens are interested in watching movies where the bad guys are bumbling idiots. If you look at today's contemporary literature for teens or young adults, you'll find that the opposite is true. The books that are being written (with the exception of spin-offs like The O.C. or Charmed) are usually intelligent. So why not make a movie for teens that's clever and thought provoking? Sure, the film made a good deal of money. Twenty-six million dollars was spent on its production, and it made forty-seven million in the theaters, and another forty-million for rentals. A good enough profit to make a second film.

This was above average for your typical teen film - but not by much. The formula is simple. A kid has resources that are beyond that of a normal kid (and yes, I understand that this is meant to be a self-esteem booster), he faces some fairly daunting odds, overcomes them, and gets the girl. That's the formula. Everything else is either peripheral (parents) or gadgetry.

That said, the action sequences in the film were believable and well choreographed. I have no idea if Frankie Muniz is skilled in the martial arts, but if he isn't, then the double they had stand in from him did a good job - as did the director for making it seem that it was actually Muniz doing the spins and kicks.

Still, I would like to see more films geared towards teens that reflect current trends of teen literature. The literature is getting "smarter", and so should the movies.

The dream of every teenage boy is portrayed in this underrated flick.What boy woudn't want to drive a cool car,work for the CIA, have a hot handler, kiss Hilary Duff, and save the world. A great addition to a getting boring spy gere.

Let me just get something off my chest. A lot of people seem to dislike Hilary Duff, who appears in this fun kids' spy movie. Just leave her alone! I like Hilary, she's very talented and good-looking and I suspect people knock her through sheer jealousy and lack her talent, so they knock people who DO have talent and waste time on the Web leaving stupid hate messages. GROW UP! Anyway, I disgress. On with the movie review. Frankie Muniz plays Cody Banks, a teenager who is actually a CIA teen spy in a special black project. He is assigned to get to an evil genius played by IAN McSHANE(from the BBC's Lovejoy series) via his daughter Natalie(HILARY DUFF - who was also in CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN and LIZZIE McGUIRE of course, a hottie these days)at an exclusive school. However, in spite of his great abilities as a spy, Banks just CANNOT chat up girls as well as Austin Powers. Ha! He learns that said genius is manipulating nanotechnology to his own means to take over the world(well what else?) and tracks him to his secret hideaway in the Cascade montains. You will surely guess the ending, however you will have fun watching this movie. Not just for the gags(particularly the obviously crude overcrowding of the surveillance van one and the obvious result), and Banks's poor chat up methods and how he has to be taught by the CIA to chat up girls, but watch out for the announcement about a silver Aston Martin at CIA HQ(actually filmed at a university outside Vancouver), Cody Banks's driving lessons at school, Hilary Duff in a school uniform(!!!), the SPY KIDS knock off gadgets, the well-executed opening and some eye-candy setpieces. Although it received a 12(our version of PG-13) certificate here in the UK, it is a great film for the famly to watch and is very suitable for kids in spite of some minor sexual references. Kids will also love the gadgets and action scenes. It was successful enough to spawn a sequel, which also is a plus point. Fine famly entertainment as well as being a laugh for those of us who love cheesy movies.

Cody Banks is actually an enjoyable movie. It's a teenage James Bond, that fun and easy to watch.

The bad parts: the bad special effects - they suck and take way from the fun atmosphere.
The sexuality - I was thinking if kids see this movie it might be too sexual for them. It's rated PG and Harmon is dressed seductivly.

I absolutely have to give this movie 5 stars. It caught my interest and kept it the whole movie. I loved it.

It's about a Cody Banks (Frankie Muniz) who has a problem talking to girls. He is 16 years old and has to get close to Natalie Conners (Hilary Duff). He has to do this because he is recruited as a CIA member, due to going to a "CIA summer camp" previously.

Natlie's father, Dr. Conners needs the funding for nanotechnology. The only person who would give him the money is a sinister man who only wants to use the nanobots to destroy America's weapons, so that he can have world domination. Of course, due to Cody Banks and the rest of the CIA, this fails. Also because this is a children-targeted movie, that is why it ends that way =).

This movie includes a lot of great special effects, and a lot of humorous teenage things during it. Such as when Cody goes to the party, and can see through everyone's clothes. I think everyone will enjoy this movie. This is a movie meant for the whole family to watch together.

The DVD features a lot of great things, including a few deleted scenes, some outtakes, and an exclusive Sneak Peak at the sequel.
The features are all very cool to watch, especially watching certain parts of the film from different angles, looking at the costume designs, and watching how they created the special effects.

I thought Agent Cody Banks was a really good movie--I remember walking out the theatre just amazed!! I love Frankie and Hilary...

This is a great spy film for both kids an adults alike!!! Probably not the most complex story line,buts it's aimed mostly at younger viewers!!And it's got Frankie Muniz & Hilary Duff for the kids/teens and Angie Harmon,Arnold Vosloo,and Ian McShane for us adults,I have two nephews and they loved it,and so did I,heck my my 60+ parents seemed to enjoy it as well!!! Recommended!!!Great picture and sound (in BOTH Standard Full Frame and Anamorphic Widescreen versions so all will be happy!!!),and some nice bonus features are included on this dual sided DVD!!! A+

A great fast, fun, clean and enjoyable movie. Its a shame the book was not as good, but this film is great, yes the actor does a big part in the movie and carries the film. It may not be a classic, but is full of fun and well worth watching. Cody is like Jason Steed, Alex Rider a young 007, teen spy.
Agent Cody Banks deserves much more attention than it gets

Plot: Cody Banks (Frankie Muniz) learns he is a secret agent and he is brought in for training by Ronica Miles (Angie Harmon) who ends up his sidekick. He meets the CIA Director (Keith David) and prepares on his first mission while his parents, Mrs. Banks (Cynthia Stevenson) and Mr. Banks (Daniel Roebuck) along with his younger brother Alex Banks (Connor Widdows) have no idea what is going on. His mission is to get close to Natalie Connors (Hilary Duff) in hopes that she will invite him to her birthday party so he can use the opportunity to spy on her dad, Dr. Connors (Martin Donovan) because he is under suspicion for working for ERIS an illegal corporation. Complications arise when Natalie is kidnapped and Cody must rescue her.

The Good News: Right away the film starts with a big action sequence and it's a very impressive one at that. There is so much to like here it's a wonder that this series has never gotten as much attention as the Spy Kids series even if the second film is lousy. Director Herald Zwart brings a lot of flair to this film as the film is shot beautifully and never looks cheap or boring. The script by Ashley Edward Miller, Zack Stentz, Scott Alexander, and Larry Karaszewski is never boring and never loses your interest when nothing is happening. The acting is great, long time friends Frankie Muniz and Hilary Duff star and Hilary Duff shows the talent that would carry her through the next few years and Frankie Muniz is no slacker in the role of Cody Banks and it's no surprise that he would go on to be a star even if he never got as much fame as Hilary. The best supporting roles go to Keith David as the CIA Director and it's not a wonder that he returned for the sequel and the other one goes to Angie Harmon as Ronica Miles. She is energetic on screen and you fell her presence throughout the film. The plot, while nothing new proves you don't have to always have a fresh plot to make the film enjoyable. The film's tag line is one of the best and it sets the tone for the film, the running time is 102 minutes, but it seems a lot shorter than that and has a high re watch-ability factor. The action scenes are outstanding and the two that come off as the best are the diner scene and the ending. There are more such as when Cody is at Natalie's birthday party and he's spying on Dr. Connors and the beginning, it's really hard to pick a favorite one, but the diner scene and the ending come off as the best. I also recorded a few good laughs here and there between the action breaks. One of the biggest laughs is Ronica's first appearance, I don't want to ruin it for you as it is the biggest laugh our of the entire film. I'm also not a big fan of the boyfriend and girlfriend situation, but here is works well and flows well with the plot.

The Bad News: I couldn't find anything wrong except a few logical errors which every film has

Conclusion: If you like action or adventure movies then this film is definitely for you and if you haven't seen it already grab yourself a DVD copy today! Recommeded

This pint sized James Bond spoof is so much better than I thought it would be. The movie is more entertaining than some other spy spoofs such as the "Matt Helm" series and some of the real Bond movies! Frankie Muniz is well cast in the funny little spy comedy. The DVD tranfer is good......check it out.