Kids like Us

Two reasons that we watched Spy Kids: director Robert Rodriguez, and Machete. This was a good idea.

There was plenty of Robert Rodriguez, especially if you consider Antonio Vargas to be his onscreen presence. Antonio and his wife, played by Carla Gugino, are raising 2 kids (Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara) in a big house somewhere in Mexico. They seem like normal parents, but they have a secret: they are retired spies. The secret comes out when they are captured by mad genius and kiddie show host Alan Cumming and his minion Alexander Minion, played by Tony Shaloub.

The kids are forced to become spies themselves, and turn to a spy gizmo maker for help - their uncle Machete! Yes, it's Danny Trejo as a family friendly version of Machete.

Overall, the film is fun and satisfying. It looks great, but not slick enough to be pure spectacle. Instead, it's just lo-fi enough to pull you in.

I don't know how much kids would like this, but we did.