Spies in Disguise Movie Review

Spies in Disguise (2019)

Rent Spies in Disguise on Amazon Video
Written by: Lucas Martell (inspired by: the animated short film "Pigeon: Impossible" by), Cindy Davis (screen story by), Brad Copeland and Lloyd Taylor (screenplay by)
Directed by: Nick Bruno, Troy Quane
Starring: Will Smith, Tom Holland, Rachel Brosnahan, Reba McEntire, Mark Ronson, Ben Mendelsohn, Tawny Newsome
Rated: PG
Watch the trailer

Plot
When the world's best spy is turned into a pigeon, he must rely on his nerdy tech officer to save the world.

Verdict
It's a cookie cutter animated spy movie featuring the cool spy and a nerd. It's entertaining enough for children, but it's a collection of tropes. The interesting thing is Walter's focus on non-violent solutions. With action spy movies, collateral damage is ignored, but this movie provides solutions that harm no one, something other characters initially dismiss.
Skip it.

Review
This isn't creative with plot or characters. Spies have to stop a villain with a mundane plan. Walter's non-violent approach is intriguing in a genre that ignores collateral damage. Sterling, the super spy that's the envy of everyone, likes to blow stuff up with no regard to consequences. While the movie doesn't depict anyone innocent being injured, the villain of the movie is a result of collateral damage. The movie plays down the depths of this relationship of violence, but with Walter's mindfulness, a super villain may not have been created.On the surface this is an odd couple scenario. Sterling is the James Bond type spy, and Walter isn't. Walter builds the gadgets that are non-violent.  They are paired together, not by choice, and learn from each other. Part of that entails Sterling being transformed into a pigeon. That generates plenty of jokes. It's a bit of character building as Sterling loses everything that makes him... him.Sterling rejects

Will Smith voices Sterling.

Tom Holland voices Walter.

Walter's non-violent means initially, but ends up needing Walter's help. In the end, it's Walter's methods that are championed. The movie doesn't go into detail about why Sterling's methods are bad. Characters realize that Walter's methods can be effective. It's this idea that makes the movie more interesting, but aside from that idea this movie is largely forgettable. This movie isn't a repudiation of violent spy movies, nor does it need to be. It's a discussion point in an otherwise banal movie.