‘My Spy’ movie review: Dave Bautista’s tough guy CIA agent is a big softie at heart
Chloe Coleman also stars in family comedy about a spy who forms an unexpected friendship with an unlikely ally
Dave Bautista and Chloe Coleman star in family comedy 'My Spy'.My Spy tells the tale of JJ (Dave Bautista), a tough CIA agent who gets demoted after failing to track down the mysterious Marquez (Greg Bryk). He is assigned to monitor a young girl, Sophie (Chloe Coleman) and her busy mother Kate (Parisa Fitz-Henley). The intelligent Sophie soon gets involved in JJ’s espionage work, and the pair form an unexpected friendship.
Despite its cheesy, family-friendly premise, this film is surprisingly self-aware, frequently poking fun at its own genre tropes. It also approaches the very real issues that both children and adults face when it comes to making friends, fitting in and feeling lonely.
While the fight scenes are comical, and are accompanied by a fun, upbeat soundtrack, these charming montages do begin to detract from the actual plot. It’s only towards the end of the film that we find out what criminal activity Marquez is actually up to.
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Luckily, there is plenty of room for character development, so while JJ doesn’t feel like an especially likeable character to begin with, you’ll find yourself rooting for him by the end. Kate, meanwhile, adds a necessary dose of reality to the film; her wry commentary during some of its wackier moments echoes the audience’s own thoughts, prompting several laughs.
My Spy is funnier than anticipated, but it’s A-OK if you decide to give this CIA flick a miss.