Spy Kids 2 : Island of Lost Dreams

Review by Clint Morris

When Director Robert Rodriguez decided to leave the From Dusk Til Dawn's and Desperado's behind for a bit while he dabbled in kid's films - no one expected it would be the awe-inspiring FX chartbuster that last year's Spy Kids was.

Obviously realising the impending cash cow that is the 'quality kids movie', Rodriguez returns to helm the foreseeable sequel Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams. Let the money roll in…

Re-uniting the cast from the first film plus new faces, the sequel again centres on the adventures of crime busting pre-teen spies, Carmen and Juni Cortez (Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara).

These days, the duo has more politics to deal with than rescues, with an onslaught of office politics and cutthroat business ethics to overcome.

Add to that, their rivalry with fellow spies Gary and Gerti Giggles (Matthew O'Leary and Emily Osment), whose father Donnagon (Mike Judge) looks like nabbing the top agency job from under Gregorio Cortez's (Antonio Banderas) feet.

To prove they've still got what it takes, Carmen and Juni embark on a mission to unlock the mystery of an inexplicable island. Unfortunately for them, they realise their gadgets don't work on the Island, so they're going to have to use their heads instead of their jet packs.

Thankfully, loopy scientist Dr Romero (Steve Buscemi), the only inhabitant of the island, can point them in the right direction. But wouldn't you know it, the Giggles duo is on their way to the Isle too, planning on stealing the Cortez's thunder.

Like the first film, Spy Kids 2 is a mound of fun. The humour is fresh and the special effects are out of this world. Rodriguez also finds time to bring back some of the popular characters from the first film, whilst adding turns by Ricardo Montalban, Bill Paxton and Christopher McDonald to the mix.

Inevitably Spy Kids 2 isn't as much fun as the first film, it's all a little 'been there, done that'.

But, for the most part, it's top quality family entertainment of the highest order -- something critics presume doesn't exist, and the special effects in the film will see most jaw's plummeting to the ground.

3.5 out of 5

Spy Kids 2 : Island of Lost Dreams
Australian release: Thursday January 9
Cast: Alexa Vega, Daryl Sabara, Matthew O'Leary, Emily Osment, Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino, Mike Judge, Steve Buscemi, Ricardo Montalban, Holland Taylor, Cheech Marin, Danny Trejo, Alan Cumming, Tony Shalhoub.
Director: Robert Rodriguez.
Website: Click here

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