Director: George Gallo
Writer: George Gallo
Genre: Action - Comedy - Romance - Thriller
Country: USA/Germany
Certification: 12+
Language: English
Released: 14th July, 2008 (DVD)


MAIN CAST:

Antonio Banderas (Tommy)
Meg Ryan (Marty Durand)
Colin Hanks (Henry Durand)
Selma Blair (Emily)

Henry Durand, who works for the FBI, is sent on a mission that will take him far from his emotionally unstable mother who is a physical and emotional mess - yet extremely loveable and quirky. When he returns, it is to find that 'mom' has turned into a 'bombshell' who is, although still lovably quirky, brimming with self-confidence and as lively and enthusiastic as a teen.

Henry's mother, who has become 'spiritually enlightened' after a trip to Tibet, is extremely popular with men and doesn't lack for male companionship - much to Henry's dismay - and when she meets and falls for Tommy, a known art thief that the FBI are presently tracking, Henry's 'stable' world begins to collapse.

Forced to spy on his mother and Tommy, Henry, who is over-protective of her, feels the strain when he realises just how much his mother loves the man that he's trying to send to jail.

'My Spy' originally released as 'My Mom's New Boyfriend', is a quirky romance that is entertaining regardless that it holds no surprises. People generally disliked this movie, claiming that it possessed a great cast but the storyline was mediocre. I tend to disagree with the latter... the storyline IS uninspiring and it's been done to death, but it isn't 'mediocre'. True, there are no surprises, no twists and turns that you haven't already seen coming, but it IS what it is - a 'feel good' movie that's entertaining and good for a few laughs.

Honestly, is there anyone out there who can look at the main cast line-up and find a single actor that isn't worthy of being watched even in a 'flimsy' movie? Nope. Antonio Banderas and Meg Ryan are simply great together, so are Colin Hanks and Selma Blair - these two couples simply 'fit'.

The storyline is somewhat unimaginative, and some will reflect that Antonio Banderas has been stereotyped these past few years as a bungling Latino lover whose roles are never entirely serious - but hey, that's what I like about Antonio - he's the type of actor who likes to have a bit of fun, and is prepared to take the back seat. He isn't a headline hunter! He accepts secondary roles and is always prepared to share the limelight, which is absolutely fantastic! In this case, in 'My Spy', he shares the limelight with Ryan, Hanks and Blair, and it simply... works.

This movie is unpretentious - just a bit of fluff that's great fun watching and doesn't require thought.

Meg Ryan is downright daffy in this movie, resembling an overly-medicated Goldie Hawn in her heyday, and that's just fine because she's so darned sweet and lovely to watch. Antonio Banderas is the bungling thief that always seems to get caught, yet right alongside the clumsiness is a spot of genius that sort of balances everything out, and who cares anyways because he possesses so much darned charisma that a smile is all it takes to win the audience over! As for Hanks and Blair, their presence in the movie is a necessary balance, it is the 'sane' that is needed to fight off the 'insane' - a great combination.

'My Spy' is a worthy movie to watch - suitable for the entire family, non-violent, funny, a bit eccentric at times, and although the 'action' is nearly inexistent, it is present in its own quirky way. This is your 'average' grown-up comedy - a nice change from the 'teeny-bopper' movies that are all about the naked female body, coarse language and violence.