Plot: What’s it about?
Juni Cortez (Daryl Sabara) was once a top OSS agent, but these days, he works as a detective for hire. While his new job is rather dull compared to the old one, things soon get more interesting than ever. The OSS needs Juni’s help and right now, as Carmen (Alexa Vega) is in serious trouble. She is held prisoner inside a cutting edge video game, trapped in a virtual world that will only unlock if someone conquers the program. With previous attempts ineffective, Juni is called in to traverse the game’s dangerous world, created by the evil Toymaker (Sylvester Stallone). So not only does Juni need to overcome the high end video game, he also has to defeat its creator, which is no small task. If Toymaker isn’t stopped, his plan to control the minds of his players will be complete, with disastrous results. Can Juni tap back into the skills that made him an elite OSS agent, or will Toymaker soon command an army of mind controlled soldiers?
The first two Spy Kids movies were good fun, solid action tales the entire family could appreciate. But would that trend continue with this third installment? Sadly, Spy Kids 3 is a total mess. The story seems out of place, the performances are flat, and the focus on visual effects was ill advised. If you think movies have too much CGI, then your eyes will melt when you see the volume of digital effects on showcase here. Some look passable, but very few look even remotely realistic or even plausible. As such, you’re always jarred out of the movie, as the entire experience seems false. The dynamic between Juni and Carmen is absent, the familiar faces from previous films are limited to weak cameos, and Sylvester Stallone is simply atrocious in his role. I wanted to like Spy Kids 3, as I enjoyed the first two pictures. But Spy Kids 3 has none of the charm, imagination, or family dynamic that made those so much fun to watch. So even if you loved the first two, you can safely skip Spy Kids 3.
Video: How does it look?
Spy Kids 3 is presented in 1.78:1 widescreen. The transfer here is remarkable, with a razor sharp and vivid image. The level of detail is impressive, so all the little touches are visible. This isn’t great news for some of the digital effects however, which are only made even more obvious here. I found colors to be vibrant, which is important since the visual design is loaded with rich hues, while black levels are always on the mark. An excellent visual effort in all aspects.
Audio: How does it sound?
The DTS HD 5.1 soundtrack is top notch as well, with an active, powerful presence. This movie is chock full of action, so the surrounds have ample chances to show off. This leads to some boisterous, impressive moments that will put your home theater through its paces. But the surround use isn’t just loud either, there is a good amount of creative touches, including some very cool directional effects. The music adds even more potent presence, while dialogue is well grounded and never winds up tramped under the other elements. This release also includes a Spanish language track, as well as English and Spanish subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
Robert Rodriguez’ audio comments are passable, but he glosses over the film’s flaws and spends too much time praising the cast & crew. The other extras include a host of promotional featurettes, as well as the film’s theatrical trailer. A second is home to a digital copy to use on your portable devices.
