I Spy (2002)

I Spy is a comedic look at the world of James Bond. It stars Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson, and much of it is set in Budapest (Where else could you have a spy movie but a former Eastern block country?). This film is based on a classic TV series.

Wilson plays Special Agent Alex Scott. He's had a rough start to his career, but he can get the job done even he's not exactly slick doing it. Murphy portrays Kelly Rob, an undefeated boxer who gets pressed into government service as a cover for the agent. Their mission is to recover an invisible plane that is being sold to the highest bidder in a secret weapon auction.

In order for a film such as I Spy to work, it has to be funny, as the plot is secondary, and really only is there to provide a framework for the humor. Thankfully it is. Fans of the Bond films will get a kick out of the opening scene when Wilson's character complains about other agents getting "all the cool stuff," and his gear his ten years out of date. The jokes mostly work also as Murphy coaches Wilson through a romantic interest Rachel, played by Famke Janssen. There are also plenty of good action sequences as the spies bumble through a getaway, and drive some Bimmers off of a car carrier.

At any rate, while I Spy should not be taken too seriously, as a film it mostly works. If you are looking for a James Bond parody of some sort, then check out I Spy.

Overall Grade: B

Reviewed by Jonas

Dreamgirls (2006)

It’s always difficult to adapt entertainment from one genre to the next. For example, only rarely does a film accurately portray what really goes on in the book. Similarly, a successful Broadway musical, like Dreamgirls, is quite the challenge to adapt to the big screen.

With that said, a star studded cast put forth an outstanding effort to convey the energy of musical theater onto film. This includes Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy, Beyonce Knowles, Danny Glover and Jennifer Hudson of American Idol runner up "fame." The plot is loosely based on the real life climb to stardom of Diana Ross and the Supremes. Why we need to thinly disguise the real basis of the story, I’m still not quite sure. The play apparently gets done in two acts, the first is the mid 60’s, and the second is the mid 70’s which the film follows as well.

While the musical choreography and vocals were well done, I will admit that at times the plot ran thin. On more than one occasion I felt like I was watching a Motown video more than a film. Rather than have some meaningful dialogue at several points that would clarify where things were going, the screenplay too easily resorted to yet another song. In a live Broadway show it would seem more appropriate, but in the film it feels somewhat overdone.



Still, Dreamgirls is quite entertaining. It is enjoyable to hear how the music progresses during the decade represented in the film. Some historical footage of relevant news is interspersed, and this serves to give the music some context. When you want some Motown tunes, and can’t get tickets for a Broadway show, then Dreamgirls should be a reasonable substitute. Jennifer Hudson’s vocals are excellent, and the audience must continually wonder how she didn’t win on American Idol. Just bear in mind where Dreamgirls came from because as a film on its own, its merely average.

Overall Grade: B