REEL CRITICS

‘Spy Kids’ top notch for ‘little tykes’

When I first walked into the theater, I thought I was going to be

asleep for the next two hours. But I was wrong. When I saw the previews

for the “Spy Kids,” I didn’t think this movie was worth seeing. I thought

it was a little kid movie. But again I was wrong.

In this film, there was a sense of heroic adventure that little kids

enjoy, with silly cartoon characters and an evil genius named Alexander

Minion for the bad guy. There was also a good story line for the adults

to follow with plenty of action.

“Spy Kids” consists of a very different mix of movie criteria. It has

action, plus adventure, humor, honesty and morality all in one.

This spy movie is generally about a family who keeps secrets from each

other. The parents (Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino) are retired spies

who are called upon for a mission. They are captured, and it’s up to

their kids to save them.

Their children, Carmen and Juni Cortez (Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara),

are the ones who save the day. First they flee to the safe house in a

submarine and then they fly to the Fegan Floop’s castle.

Floop’s toy maker assistant has a plot to make an army of robotic

children to take over the world, while inventor Floop worries about the

ratings of his TV show. The only thing that can operate the army of

children is the Third Brain, which was invented by Mr. Cortez. The evil

Minion and the Thumbs-Thumbs steal it and use it to operate the robotic

children. Will the world be taken over by this horrendous plan?

This movie isn’t exactly the movie of my dreams, but it was enjoyable.

The action was great and the characters were all unique. Overall it is

average for me, but for the “little tykes,” it’s excellent.

o7 “Spy Kids” is rated PG.

f7

* SARA SALAM, 13, attends Corona del Mar High School as a 7th-grader.

No Bond in ‘Tailor’s’ spy games

“It’s a game, let’s have some fun,” incites Andy Osnard, athird-rate

British intelligence agent exiled to Panama due to his sexual

indiscretions and increasing gambling debt, to Harry Pendel, an

ex-British citizen now a local respected tailor to the influential of

Panama, including its president.

And with just a few presumably simple words, the players are selected

and the game of espionage begins.

If you expect James Bond in John Boorman’s (“Hope and Glory”) latest

spy thriller, “The Tailor of Panama,” based on the novel by John le

Carre, you will be disappointed. However, as a titillating surprise,

Pierce Brosnan easily embodies the sleazy, shrewd, womanizing,

only-out-for-himself secret agent Andy Osnard. And Geoffrey Rush

(“Shine,” “Quills”) is formidable as his reluctant collaborator in crime,

the timid and restrained tailor Harry Pendel.

Surrounding Brosnan and Rush are Jamie Lee Curtis as Louisa Pendel,

Harry’s wife, employed by the Canal administration; Brendan Gleeson as

Mickie Abraxas, Harry’s inspiration, an alcoholic has-been radical

leader; and Leonor Varela as Marta, Harry’s disfigured secretary and

confidant.

After 85 years, the United States has turned over control of the

Panama Canal, the world’s biggest trade gateway, both legal and illegal,

to a post-Cold War Panama: a land ripe with intrigue and suspicions. Lies

are not only believed but are welcomed and embellished as truths.

Procuring the knowledge that the seemingly forthright Pendel has

fabricated a new life for himself by learning his trade while

incarcerated and that he is about to lose his family’s farm due to

outstanding debts, Osnard blackmails Pendel for information. In return,

Pendel offers him tidbits of misinformation for a price.

When Pendel discloses a resurgence of the covert radical group,

“Silent Opposition,” there is no turning back. Pendel asks for $10

million for the group’s cause; Osnard requests $15 million from British

Intelligence and they, in turn, garner $20 million from the United

States.

Unfortunately, Boorman adopts two film styles -- satirical farce and

political drama -- and poorly combines them, causing “Tailor’s” intrigue

to lose momentum. Satirical scenes such as Pendel baiting Osnard while

balancing on a brothel’s vibrating bed or Osnard bribing Pendel while

slow-dancing at a gay night club are magical.

Actual footage of the aftermath from the United States’ bombing of

Panama City, along with the fictionalized flashbacks of Noriega-era

street thugs’ brutality against rebels, is compelling. The combination

leaves the viewer disoriented. Should we be sympathetic for sinking

Pendel? Or applaud loathsome Osnard?

John le Carre’s character-driven screenplay (co-written with Boorman

and Andrew Davies) is full of clever dialogue and spiced with innuendo.

The interchanges between Osnard and Pendel are dynamic. Regardless, it

appears difficult, even for the novelist himself, to transfer cleverly

crafted characters and complex story lines from the written page to

celluloid.

“The Tailor of Panama” was an admirable attempt at disillusioning the

romantic concept of international espionage often represented in

Bond-type films. Due to slow pacing and awkward transitions “Tailor”

simply developed into a mission: impossible. Well, my mission is

complete. This review will self-destruct in ten seconds. Ten, nine, eight

. . .

o7 “Tailor of Panama” is rated R for strong sexuality, language and

some violence.f7

* JULIE LOWRANCE, 40, is a Costa Mesa resident who works at a Newport

Beach overnight aircraft advertising agency.