MY SPY
US, 2020, 102 minutes, Colour.
Dave Bautista, Chloe Coleman, Kristin Schaal, Ken Jeong, Greg Bryk, Parisa Fitz-Henley?, Noah Danby, Devere Rogers.
Directed by Peter Segal.
Audiences might get a surprise should they stumble on this film and choose to see it. It is very enjoyable in a very popular kind of way.
One of the chief aspects of the film is that it will remind us of films we have seen before, Dwayne Johnson dealing with kids, Jackie Chan as the spy next door, Vin Diesel as the Pacifier, Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Kindergarten Cop, John Cena playing with fire. Big strong man meets kids. Famous former wrestler becomes screen action hero – with the touch of comedy.
This time the main character, JJ, seems very unlikely, another former wrestler, Dave Bautista. He is not the most sympathetic of screen presences and this film relies on that, showing his abrasive side, his abilities as a top soldier but his inabilities in espionage. His boss, Ken Jeong, assigns him to a surveillance case, hoping that an international criminal will come to visit his sister-in-law and niece (which, of course, he does at the end, providing all kinds of action climaxes).
It is the niece who is key to the whole experience Sophie, Chloe Coleman. She has a cheeky screen presence, rather engaging them off-putting. In fact, she is smart and discovers the surveillance exercise very quickly, the spy and his offsider, Bobbi, who hero worships him but he tends to ignore her. She is played by comedian, Kristin Schaal.
So, the setup. We see JJ initially demolish a squad of Eastern European criminals but that was not the aim of the mission. JJ is big, hulking, unable to relate to people despite Bobbi’s overtures. JJ and Bobbi both react badly to being found out so soon – and, being continually blackmailed by Sophie who was thoughtful enough to film everything on her phone.
What follows, of course, is the humanising of JJ, taking her to school, to an art show, to skating (where he has many pratfalls but is able to one-up Sophie’s school bullies). Her mother is initially suspicious but, since movies are exercises in suspension of disbelief, there is romance in the air! There is also the comic routines of the gay couple across the corridor, one always silent on the other who prattles on incessantly, who are (and who are not) what they seem.
Because Sophie is so upfront, because her mother is so nice, because JJ allows us to see him mellow, because Bobby can intervene no matter how awkwardly, because the villain is so sinister, everything works out very satisfactorily. Quite entertaining.
1. The title? JJ as the spy, Sophie and her possessing him?
2. Dave Bautista vehicle, unlikely romantic comedy hero, his appearance, look, manner? The tradition of wrestlers becoming actors, their comedies, touch of romance, working with children?
3. JJ as a spy, seeing him in action, his crusty personality, background as a soldier, the initial action, the confrontation with the Eastern Europeans, his being exposed, CIA watching it on the big screen, as demolishing his opponents, arriving home as a hero? Bobbi and her admiration? The boss’s reaction, his being demoted, the new job, surveillance, encountering a child, challenge, change? And opening up of romance?
4. The action situation, nuclear power, the USB stick, the formulae, the clash between the brothers, Berlin, the pursuit by the CIA, the explosions? The terrorist escaping? The brother, wanting to get the stick and find his family?
5. The Chicago locations, the surveillance job, the apartment, the range of equipment, setting up the cameras? JJ as tough, continually saying no to Bobbi? Bobbi, her age, the comic touches? Her wanting to learn the business?
6. Sophie and her mother, the story of the father’s death, moving to Chicago from France, nursing, Sophie discovering the camera, discussions with JJ, filming him, having the film and using it to blackmail and pressurise JJ, the effect? Bobbi’s comments?
7. Sophie and her requests, the demands on JJ, his having to give in? Going to school, the parents and friends’ day, his talking about his job, telling the truth, intimidating the children, parents and children applauding, the teacher flirting with him? The return home, Kate discover him with Sophie, her assault?
8. Sophie, very clever, going skating, JJ falling, stopping the bullying boys, JJ watching Sophie being ignored and bullied? The art show, his adverse comments on the other painting the little girl crying?
9. Kate, her work, accepting JJ, grateful for his minding Sophie, the attraction, the offer of the date, the outing? Under surveillance? The shock of discovering the truth? Animosity towards JJ?
10. Sophie, the training, learning the moves and technology? Bobbi not?
11. The neighbours, the gay couple, the silent one, the other one chattering and interpreting his partner? Dressing JJ up? The irony of their turning out to be criminals?
12. JJ being summoned to Chicago, demoted? The criminal going to Chicago, tracking down Sophie and her mother, the dog collar with the USB stick?
13. The setup, the cameras, siege, Bobbi and the ammunition, dropping the gun, firing? The kidnap, the car chase? The resolution? And Sophie having the information?
14. Back at the CIA headquarters, the promotion? The wedding?
