Spies in Disguise (2019 Film) Review

With Blue Sky Studios now under Disney's wing, how is the animation studio's latest offering?

When a drive containing the identities of secret agents is stolen, and with him framed for it, agent Lance Sterling turns to scientist Walter Beckett for help. Beckett has concocted a serum intended to make someone "disappear," which Sterling takes, not realizing that the effects are rather fowl. Now a bird, Sterling must work with Beckett to retrieve the drive and beat the devious Killian.

Will Smith and Tom Holland star as Lance Sterling and Walter Beckett. Ben Mendelsohn voices Killian, while Rashida Jones voices Marcy Kappel, a skilled agent in pursuit of Sterling.

Troy Quane and Nick Bruno co-directed "Spies in Disguise." Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, and Michael J. Travers co-produced the film, while Brad Copeland and Lloyd Taylor co-wrote the script, based on Lucas Martell's "Pigeon: Impossible." 20th Century Fox distributed "Spies in Disguise" through Blue Sky Studios.

Overall Thoughts

To me, Blue Sky Studios is one of the animation companies that have yet to produce an all-around great film. Though their track record includes some really enjoyable fare ("The Peanuts Movie," "Robots," "Epic"), for as entertaining as they are, they lack a certain depth that would otherwise make them transcendent animated films. 

"Spies in Disguise" is a mix of slapstick comedy and Bondesque espionage. It's not entirely original, but with Will Smith and Tom Holland voicing the lead characters, there's a lot of fun to be had. Smith and Holland form a humorous, if slightly formulaic partnership. Of course, they argue - a lot, actually - but the duo share such a good rapport that even those interactions are hilarious. Their arguments are playful and the eccentricities of Blue Sky's animation style take the sight gags a step above other animated fare. The jokes aren't written particularly funny. The only reason they work is because of Smith and Holland, who each project their personalities onto their characters, making the humor feel natural.

Inside the story, beneath the familiar set-up, is a message about intelligence blowback and finding non-violent solutions to intense conflicts. As eloquently stated by one of the characters, "fighting fire with fire burns everyone." "Spies in Disguise" presents compelling viewpoints in its morals, but they don't quite reach their absolute potential. Between humor and heart, this film doesn't always balance the two the best. Scenes that begin with quick-witted sarcasm turn into dramatic character moments on a dime. This inconsistency does help the film's main point, but perhaps it could've been more streamlined.

If you decide to see "Spies in Disguise," go for the comedy. Do not go for the plot, as it falls back on familiar spy tropes from films like "Mission: Impossible" and "Skyfall." The only difference here is that they're executed with a more family-friendly approach. In a world filled with animated films, you'll recognize a few clichés that this film repurposes for its plot. They're ones that particularly annoy me because they're overused, although it's clear this film's goal isn't to be a trailblazer.

"Spies in Disguise" is entertaining, filled with humor, good-looking locales, and an ethical message. I enjoyed myself, but it's far from being the best animated film released this year. It's not a bad investment of your time, though you could see something else that possesses much more substance.

Rating:★★½

Conclusion

This has been my review of "Spies in Disguise." I hope you enjoyed it. Have you seen the film? If you have, share your thoughts in the comments below. Should you feel inclined, recommend a film for me to review next. Thank you for reading, I'm Dallin, your resident film fanatic, and I'll return soon with another review.