3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
This movie is Bond, with a Diet Pepsi, shaken not stirred, February 20, 2004
A Kid's Review
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.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Formulaic but entertaining, March 13, 2005
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.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Suprisingly Good Flick, July 10, 2005
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.
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