Leading up to the upcoming James Bond spy drama “Die Another Day,” Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson turn up the heat in the race for the best toys, the hottest women and the best action sequences in “I Spy.”
Special agent Alex Scott (Wilson)has spent the bulk of his espionage career as second fiddle to rival spy Carlos (Gary Cole).
Nevertheless, Alexis ordered to recover the world’s most sophisticated plane that was stolen from the U.S. military in “I Spy.”
To his dismay, Alex must team up with middleweight champion of the world Kelly Robinson (Murphy),whose talent is overshadowed only by his mouth.
But Alex needs Kelly to get him into the pre-fight party, hosted by thief and international arms dealer Arnold Gundars (Malcolm McDowell).
Finding the location of the plane becomes an adventure for Alex, due to a well-planned clash in personalities and the predictable romance with agent Rachel Wright (Famke Janssen).
“I Spy” is a big-budget film with much of the money spent on stars, explosives and location.
It’s only fitting for an action comedy film that there is so much going on to flood the story.
The plot is easy to follow, leading one to believe much of the film’s focus is on humor and action. It is more or less a cookie-cutter story churned out several times over.
But the story is saved by the film’s intensity and ability to throw a wrench into the gears. There is a surprise, usually accompanied by an explosion, around every corner.
Much of the film’s comedy comes from the disparity between Murphy and Wilson. Whether it be black and white or outrageous and humble, their contrasting qualities fuel the comic angle the film takes.
Murphy’s character is the epitome of the flamboyant boxer seen today in the sport. He combines the old school cockiness of Hector “Macho” Camacho and the new-age narcissism of Prince Naseem Hamed. Kelly personifies an entertainer lost in the boxing world.
Wilson is up to his old self. The innocent oaf tries to live up to his character’s mentor Carlos while taking the spotlight. Wilson has the ability to give his normally lovable characters an intellectual side.
But his latest lovable character is muddled by his metamorphosis into an action hero, just as it was in “Behind Enemy Lines.”
Perhaps Wilson’s 2003 performances - opposite Ben Stiller in “Starsky & Hutch” or as Jack Ryan in “The Big Bounce,” the latest in a string of Tom Clancy stories - will certify him as a bona fide action hero, but don’t count on it.
But being teamed up with a polar opposite, as he had with Jackie Chan in “Shanghai Noon,” has taken a toll on Wilson’s persona.
What’ll it be, Owen, action or comedy? “I Spy” is a change from the usually obscure style of comedy he created in “The Royal Tenenbaums” and “Meet the Parents.”
While both genres work well independently, together they only make a second-rate film.
Janssen fits the bill in the sex-appeal department. Her character’s ambiguous relationship with Alex adds to the suspense, but her character has no real purpose other than to add sex to the story.
“I Spy” has been built up to be an espionage flick with big stars and more action.
While it lacks the understated class of a James Bond film, it lives up to the expected level of comedy.
