Spies in Disguise

This time of year typically doesn't present itself with many animated films, but once in a while, Hollywood has to produce one for families and their kids. While production companies are wooing A.M.P.A.S. (Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences) with their films for their consideration, other sproduce films like "Spies in Disguise" and the like.

Super spy, Lance Sterling (Will Smith) and nerdy scientist, Walter Beckett (Tom Holland) are almost exact opposites. Lance is smooth, suave and debonair. Walter is, well...not. But what Walter lacks in social skills he makes up for smarts and invention, creating the awesome gadgets Lance uses on his epic missions. But when events take an unexpected turn, Walter and Lance suddenly have to rely on each other in a whole new way. And if this odd couple can't learn to work as a team, the world is in peril, since the villainous Killian (Ben Mendelsohn) is on their trail.

Others to round out the cast are Rashida Jones as Marcy, Reba McEntire as Joyless, Karen Gillan as Eyes, DJ Khaled as Ears, Masi Oka as Kimura, Rachel Brosnahan as Wendy and Jarrett Bruno as Young Walter.

This was effectively directed by virtual newcomers to helming a film, Nick Bruno (Ton of animation) and Troy Quane (A short and a ton of animation). Clearly what caused these two filmmakers to perform as well as they did in the director's chair was that both has an extensive animation background and they were rife for graduating to the directing realm, and this production proves it. This is a effortlessly helmed as well as any seasoned director could pull off. It was equally well written by Brad Copeland ("Yogi Bear" '10, "Coffee Town" '13, "Chevy" (TV movie) '15, "Ferdinand" '17) and Lloyd Taylor "The Wild" (additional story material) '06) plus a short. Certainly Copeland has the lion's share of the experience here, however what Taylor brought to the writing table was also pivotal. Other than a couple of places of choppiness and at times it lost some sequential elements, it was a spot on screenplay. Surely, the story was an interesting one with an even better message in that we work better as a team as opposed to alone in this society. And through our differences, we can transcend above them in order to succeed. And the visual effects and animation by Blue Sky Studios was seamless and creatively designed.

If one is an animation junkie you'll like this, or any animated flick, for that matter. But if you are a more discretionary filmgoer, this should entertain all the while teaching us a lesson. This is certainly one that families can and should see together.

Out of 4 Stars: 3                                            Rated: PG                                      102mins.