The Spy Next Door (2010)
TOMATOMETER
AUDIENCE SCORE
Critic Consensus: Lacking a script funny enough to cover up for Jackie Chan's fading physical gifts, The Spy Next Door fails on every conceivable level.
The Spy Next Door Videos & Photos
Movie Info
Reminiscent of Kindergarten Cop, with a dash of Spy Kids, The Spy Next Door blends together an entertaining mixture of family fun and martial-arts comedy styling to form a familiar story that once again reminds us that even hardened action heroes have a soft side. Jackie Chan stars as Bob Ho, an international spy on loan to the CIA who gives up his job in hopes of leading a so-called normal life with his next-door-neighbor girlfriend and her rambunctious brood. There's nothing in Spy that the … More
| Rating: | PG (for sequences of action violence and some mild rude humor) |
| Genre: | Action & Adventure, Comedy |
| Directed By: | Brian Levant |
| Written By: | Jonathan Bernstein, James Greer, Gregory Poirier, Jim Greer |
| In Theaters: | Jan 15, 2010 Wide |
| On DVD: | May 18, 2010 |
| Box Office: | $24.3M |
| Runtime: |
People Who Like this movie also like
Cast
as Bob Ho
as Gillian
as Farren
as Ian
as Nora
as Colton James
as Poldark
as Creel
as Larry
as Glaze
as Cute Girl
as Chad
as Carl
as Mom
as Walter
as Scientist
as Principal
as Taxi Driver
as Russian Thug
as Russian Thug
as Russian Thug
as Russian Thug
as Russian Thug
as Russian Thug
Friend Ratings
No Friends? Inconceivable! Log in to see what your friends have to say.
LoginCritic Reviews for The Spy Next Door
All Critics (94) | Top Critics (27) | Fresh (11) | Rotten (78) | DVD (6)
Even the outtakes barely raise a smile.
If the lazy filmmakers don't care enough about their movie to offer at least one single original idea, then you shouldn't care enough to go see it.
This film plays it too safe and brings you only a smidgeon of charm and laughter.
An uncomfortable journey for everyone involved.
Though mixing espionage and family values in unraveling dysfunctional behavior among a bratty brood of siblings may be a stretch, Jackie Chan makes the most of it in his latest caper targeting unruly kids.
This is the broad, silly kiddie exercise it appears to be.
Audience Reviews for The Spy Next Door
a silly premise and corny script actually works for a film like this. chan is fun to watch as always and my kids enjoyed it. an average and enjoyable family action comedy.
Super Reviewer
26/02/2011 (DVD)
A family buzz! Definitely a winner for the occasional family night in. Enjoyed it very much, the whole martial-art comedy thing is a plus and Jackie Chan is the right ingredient for that. This won't win any 'Oscar" but it will extract a giggle somewhere.
I don't think I could watch this alone, its not that kind of movie to soak in, it's more of a groupie flick where you don't really have to concentrate while you watch it because everything is easy to catch and predictability levels are heightened due to the fact that this plot has been done several times but still... a fun time goodie for the clan.
A one-time fun time experience for me but a definite recommendation for all. Honestly there are times in this flick where I'm like "I can't believe they left that line in or that scene" but I guess that's why I enjoyed it more... I sort like crap like that, it just makes me wonder and laugh and think whether they did that on purpose. I don't know?
Super Reviewer
I have seen hundreds of movies go bad. I've seen plenty try and cram a ham-fisted saccharine, entirely phony message about family values or whatever hackneyed lesson needs to be delivered with the subtlety of a sledgehammer. Rarely have I seen a movie that tries to cram in EVERY banal family message possible into one exasperated running time. There was one point where I counted three clichéd platitudes in a row. Rarely have I seen a movie fail at comedy so badly, even the generous definition of comedy in family films, a subgenre that haunts all those who crossover into it. Rarely have I seen one single family film try to do so much and succeed so breathtakingly little. The Spy Next Door is that movie. Jackie Chan stars as a retired Chinese super spy who the American government wants to keep contracting. He's also dating his neighbor (Amber Valetta) who has three rambunctious kids that fall into easy slots (surly teenager smarting from parent's divorce, dweeby tech kid trying to learn to stand up to bullies, precocious little tyke who makes a mess). Chan agrees to watch over them for a weekend to convince those kids they should give him a shot, or else it's splitsville between he and the mom. It's the Vin Diesel Pacifier movie but done with even less finesse, if possible. The comedy is nonexistent, which is saying something for being as broad as it is, the physical action shows how badly Chan is aging, and the plot is painfully predictable. This is just a sad, uncomfortable viewing experience; it reeks of desperation and despondency. No one looks to be enjoying themselves for a single second. That's probably because The Spy Next Door is a vacuum of fun; it's lazy, incompetent, but worst of all, devoid of any effort to be something other than a mind-numbing, head-scratching waste of 90 minutes.
Nate's Grade: D-
Super Reviewer
Discussion Forum
Discuss The Spy Next Door on our Movie forum!
