Customer Reviews

I Spy

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(13)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson delighted audiences in late 2002 with this action-packed film based on the 1965-68 NBC adventure series starring comedian Bill Cosby and Robert Culp. This is one of the best action films since the LETHAL WEAPON series. Scott Kelly(Wilson) and athlete Alexander Scott(Murphy) are partners in crime. You can call them cops,P.I.'s,FBI agents,whatever. This is a reunion between Murphy and director Betty Thomas who is late of the NBC crime drama Hill Street Blues. Previously,Thomas directed Murphy in the remake of THE NUTTY PROFESSOR and the remake sequel. Thomas' previous films include THE BRADY BUNCH MOVIE and PRIVATE PARTS.

What a good time I had watching this movie. I've watched it four times 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.

Like the Lord of the Rings was pure entertainment, 'I Spy' was pure comedy. The chemistry of Owen Wilson and Eddie Murphy is perfect and I couldn't ask for more in a movie...

The movie starts with the introduction of the CIA Agent played by Owen Wilson. He is then confronted with a mission: an invisible ship called the Switchblade has gone missing and it is up to him to get it back. It is in the hands of a criminal mind, however, so this poses a problem. A boxing match is being fought in a week, so the CIA recruits the heavyweight champ Kelly Robinson (Murphy) so they can access the building where the holder of the Switchblade (Murphy calls it a Leafy Bug) is throwing a party the night before the fight.

The story continues with scene after scene of hysterics, and leaves you laughing at the end! All the characters did their job (some were made one-dimensional for humour: for example, the secret agent stud Carlos), and the scenes and gags were well done.

This movie contains probably the funniest scene I have ever watched but the critics and many movie-goers alike have bombed this movie in their reviews...Why? People are too caught up in the 'message' of the story or the 'new ideas' or something 'different'. What they don't see is that this is a comedy and if it makes you howl and you thoroughly enjoy it, then ITS A GOOD MOVIE! If you aren't entertained, then that's your preference and unfortunately the movie is not for you...In other words, comedy is meant solely to entertain, and many adventures-like it or not-are meant to show you the struggles and journeys of certain individuals. If you don't like it, just go see a drama: its going to be the one who gets all the Oscars, but it might not be the one that is the best of quality...

For those who come to the recent film version of the hit 1960s I SPY, there is the inevitable tendency to compare them, with the film coming off as a pale imitation. In the television series, the focus was on the delicate and artful blending of comedy and action with the magic chemistry of the actors. Viewers simply accepted the reality of a pair of government spies, only one of whom was an athlete. The viewer of the movie has a much harder job since the blending of comedy and action here is badly off center with jokes and ad libs serving as distractors rather than as advancers of the plot. There is also the tendency to see Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson in the same light as Chris Rock and Jackie Chan who played much the same pair but with far more success. In I SPY, Eddie Murphy is the too cool inner city athlete who is co-opted to be a spy by Owen Wilson. In Murphy's case, his interpretation of Kelly Robinson marks him as an overage rapper wannabe whose only focus is on impressing the ladies. In Wilson's case, he comes off as way too young and geeky to be taken seriously as a head spook. Their overly frequent head butting is supposed to entertain but too often annoys. Malcom McDowell also disappoints as the bad guy plane dealer. He seems to have forgotten how good he was in A CLOCKWORK ORANGE or in TIME AFTER TIME. Famke Janssen generates most of the tension and interest as the leggy spy whose motives are suspect. What emerges from I SPY is the dulling realization that a great deal of misplaced talent was wasted in a film that could not decide where to draw that fine line between action, humor, and brainlessness.

This movie has all the makings of being just another cheesy flick, but just at the last second something manages to save it. That would be the relationship between Murphy and Owen Wilson.
Although they aren't as funny a pair as Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson, there is a spark in I Spy that generates humor even when these two are not fighting between themselves. Such as Owen renting the lowest cost room for the boxing God (Murphy) or when they are trying to take over the spy plane in the end.

A decent action thriller/comedy that is pulled of rather well on such used plot. I Spy manages to follow the James Bond thread without drawing on it too much to be cliche.
But enough said, I'll let you be the judge.

An arrogant boxer (EW) and an underated 007 spy (OW) getting together for a mission to save the US called on by George W. Bush. What better plot do you need to be for this to be so freakin' funny. The sewer scene in Hungary is the best and the "Sexual Healing" scene is great too! If you have any sence of humor, you will love this movie. Apparently, the other people who wrote negative stuff did not watch the same movie or are retarded. I own the movie and still watch it from time to time.

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

An enjoyable film, I Spy, brings to the screen the story of an unlikely pair that has teamed up in order to recover a stolen American stealth aircraft prototype which is to be sold to the highest (criminal) bidder. A U.S. special agent and the World middleweight boxing champion will travel to Hungary to try and get back the aircraft and bring the criminals to justice.
Owen Wilson, Eddie Murphy, Famke Janssen (who is GORGEOUS!), Malcolm McDowell, and the rest of the cast carry out their performances very well.
The setting, the plot, the dialogues, the humor, and the music are all good.
I Spy is definitely a movie worth watching, and though quite silly at times, it will surely put you in a good mood and provide for an evening's entertainment.

I am so tired of people saying Eddie Murphy isn't funny anymore. And I hear it all the time. All the time. My wife wakes up every morning, by tapping me on the shoulder and saying, "Eddie Murphy is a hack." And my neighbor says that Eddie Murphy hasn't made a good film since 48 Hours. But I like to retort that you don't stick around Hollywood for 23 years by making substandard movies. Hollywood won't tolerate it. It isn't not true. You don't get to the pinnacle of Hollywood by being phony or untalented or making bad movies. Eddie comfortably fits in with such belabored comics as Jimmy Walker, Louie Anderson and Jeff Foxworthy.

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.