Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams (2002)
Written & Directed by Robert Rodriguez

Latinos are doin' it for themselves these days, and none more so than Robert Rodriguez, one of the most fun directors around—Hispanic or otherwise. I for one loved Spy Kids, thought it was funny and inventive and exciting (and I don't mean sexually, though Carla Gugino is niiiiice). I was really looking forward to Spy Kids 2, and was only mildly disappointed; the new one is almost as good as the first, but gets a little muddled somewhere in the middle.

Spy Kids 2 mostly matches the original's visual and technological imagination, charming wit, and fast-paced storyline. What's nice about this sequel is that it isn't a retread storyline, but takes its characters on an entirely new journey, this time to a mysterious island with a bunch of strange hybrid creatures invented by a mad but friendly scientist, played by Steve Buscemi.

One of the things I liked about Spy Kids was that the kids got to have an adventure while dealing with stuff that normal, not-abused kids deal with, such as fear and wanting independence – but nothing's hit over your head, it's just kind of thrown into the storyline and dealt with, without the weeping, psychological drugs, and bed-wetting that accompanied my own adolescence.

Same goes for SK2, though thankfully it's new: equally simple issues like jealousy and trust. Maybe I have a simple mind, but I thought that aspect of both movies worked well, and didn't cause me to cry or piss myself, unlike my parents.

What doesn't work is the plot, which is a bit confusing and complicated, and not in a good "American Beauty for kids" kind of way, but in a "we gotta have twice the action in this one" way. At some point, I started to lose interest in all the goings-on, but still enjoyed the visual ingenuity, the goofy/intentionally-cheesy effects, and the witty dialogue.

It may be not for most adults (at least those with no heart), but Spy Kids 2 gets this man-child's vote.

Review by Crimedog