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Spy Kids: All the Time in the World

Spy Kids: All the Time in the World: A Fun Comedy For Kids

  • Alexa VegaDanny Trejo...
  • Action & AdventureComedy
  • Robert Rodriguez
reviewed by
Yasmin Shehab
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Spy Kids: All the Time in the World: A Fun Comedy For Kids

The
fourth instalment in the Spy Kids franchise tells the story of the
Wilson family. Wilbur (McHale) is a professional spyhunter who has never
actually caught a spy. His rather precocious kids, Rebecca and Cecil,
(Blanchard and Cook respectively) aren’t feeling the love. Their dad is always
busy with work and they just don’t get along with their stepmother Marissa
(Alba) who, unbeknownst to the entire family, is an ex-spy. Their world turns
upside down when the Timekeeper (Piven) accelerates time in an evil plot to
fast forward the world to Armageddon.


This film
is an action-comedy for kids and it does well on those terms. It’s chock-full
of one-liners and visual gags such as exploding diapers, vomit bombs and a
bunch of pranks courtesy of Rebecca,
which may delight your inner eight-year old. In between these scenes, the film preaches
a family-first message; meaning you’re subjected to several heavy-handed
monologues about the virtues of making time for your family, cooperating with
your sibling and cutting your stepmother some slack. These monologues become
rather tedious after a while, but only until the robot dog, Argonaut (Gervais) busts
out its next karate chop or poops metal balls.


This
reviewer’s favourite part was the way Cecil’s hearing disability was portrayed.
His hearing aid was used as one of the spies’ many awesome gadgets.
He’d turn the volume all the way down until his sister would stop whingeing and
then all the way up again to hear the turning of the cogs while picking a lock.
In addition, the siblings use their knowledge of sign language to secretly
communicate right under the Timekeeper’s nose. His disability was never
portrayed as something out of the ordinary or as an obstacle that he had to
overcome.


This
film has been made with young children in mind; as is highly evident by the
visuals and effects. Bright colours take over the screen, lending the cinematography
a rather cheap but cheerful look. One of the more entertaining parts was when
our spy kids were teleporting to the villain’s lair. Along the way, they disintegrate
and are put back together while a bright pink vortex swirls around them. This
scene is one of the only scenes that actually justify the use of 3D, which, for
the most part, doesn’t add anything to the experience.


This
film is recommended if you’re looking to entertain children still young enough
to see the humour in various bodily functions. At best, they’ll learn to
appreciate their family more and at worst, they’ll rig a prank to get their own
back and crack fart jokes all the way to the car.

Like This? Try

Shorts, Sky High, The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl

360 Tip

Look out for various Spy Kids alumni such as Danny Trejo in addition to Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara, who played the spy kids in the first three films.

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