Hey, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab.
Seems like they’re screening this film a lot right now, and we got a few different takes on things in from different readers today. I saw the film and will write my review closer to release. I can say that it’s long on charisma and chemistry, even if it’s thin in other ways. For now, let’s see what these guys thought of it.
First up, we’ve got “e4ia”...
Hey. I just caught a sneak peak at the new Eddie Murphy/Owen Wilson flick "I Spy" last night here in Atlanta. I was given the tickets free by a co-worker and pretty much went just because my friend and I had little else to do. Otherwise, judging from the previews and what I know about the film, I probably wouldn't have went out of my way to see it unless I flipped onto it on TNN a couple of years from now. I was pleasantly surprised by how breezy and light the tone of the Betty Thomas ("The Brady Bunch Movie") directed film was (big, explosive, over-extended chases aside). Owen Wison simply stole the film out from under Eddie Murphy's usual frantic, fast-talk jive-dancing feet. Don't get me wrong. Eddie Murphy was still entertaining to watch and had several laugh-inducing moments. But it was Wilson's "ahh-shucks" attitude and slightly, dim but lovable character of a second-tier spy that allowed me to overlook the extremely predictable plot that had my friend and I correctly guessing out-loud what was going to happen next and who was double-crossing who. Although I have to say that the double, triple and sometimes quadruple crossing during the climax did almost beat us at our game. Almost.
Famke Janssen turns up her sexual heat as Wilson's possible love interest/possible double-agent with a knack for things more on the S/M side (part of Wilson's character's appeal towards her). Gary Cole (another "Brady Bunch" alumn) is a first-tier spy who Wilson is jealous of cuz he gets all the good spy toys. Malcom MacDowell is simply wasted as the rich villian who has stolen an invisible spy plane called the "switch-blade" and trying to sell it to other rich villians (yes, that is pretty much the whole plot). And Eddie Murphy is an over-arrogant boxer who helps Wilson sneak into MacDowell's party that is being held in honor of Murphy's character the night before his next big match (which you may notice that the Murphy character goes more than 48 hours without any sleep, being chased, beat up and shot at and still easily obtains a knock-out before running off to do some more "spy-stuff"). Let's just Eddie Murphy is Eddie Murphy and his fans won't be dissappointed.
Everyone else might find some enjoyment if they expect something less than "Charlie's Angels" but something more than "Rush Hour 2" and something WAY better than "Adventures of Pluto Nash." Just depends on if that is something to spend 8 bucks or just stumble upon some boring night on TNN.
-e4ia
Next up is “mouse”...
Heya Harry,
Mouse here, Lately, while attempting to enlighten my friends and associates to the craziness that is Jet Li and Hong Kong theater I recieved a pass to a local screening of I Spy with Owen Wilson and Eddie Murphy from the folks at Vulcan Video and Dragon Lair. Actually, I don't think many locals have been that impressed by Mr. Murphy's work lately so I didn't recieve so much as was forcable given a stack of about twenty. Which is ok since I just started a new job and the co-workers were all happy to get passes.
Deciding to give Mr. Wilson a chance to redeem Eddie, I decided to head to the screening. I also tried to get to use this to spend some time with a cute little mouse from work. But work has been acting like Kyle's Mom in reguards to pay, and the mouse had to pacify the roomies screaming for rent. So I had to attend solo. Getting to the location, the fine Metropolotian here in Austin, I take my place in line and immediately strike up a conversion on the merits of Battle Royale and Vulcan Video, mainly the excellent selection to the former.
Finally getting into the theater, I pick a seat in the back row so I don't have to work too much to get the entire film in view. All is going well until I see the psycho that is my ex-girlfriend enter. (I feel justified in using the term since she threatened me and my pet with a knife as big as my arm to let me know she wanted to break up.) Thankfully, she's as blind as a bat and refuses to wear glasses.
But I disgress. I'm writing to let you and your readers know about this movie. Let me give the short answer as to my opinion as such:
Before the screening I wouldn't have paid to see this movie. But I would now.
There. I like the work of Owen Wilson, but like I said, Eddie Murphy hasn't been a real funny man to me lately. And the concept of the film didn't strike me as original enough to merit seeing. I'm not saying that the film doesn't have flaws, IT DOES. I felt like I had the script in front of me the entire movie and that I was a few pages ahead. The movie is predictible. But it is fun none the less. And Eddie Murphy doesn't drop the ball on me. I actually liked it. It's a good, simple popcorn movie. It's a sit back, set your brain on idle and laugh at the jokes movie. If you don't want that in your movie, find something else, otherwise, feel free to check this out.
-- mouse.
Cool. Thanks to both of you.
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