Susan Granger’s review of “Spy Kids: Armageddon” (Netflix)
Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15) celebrates Hispanic and Latino history and culture, so it’s the perfect time to introduce children to Robert Rodriguez’ beloved franchise’s newest entry “Spy Kids: Armageddon.”
Directed by Texas-based Rodriguez from a script he wrote with his now-grown son Racer Max – and another son, Rebel, composing the music – it begins with OSS (Organization of Super Spies) secret agents Nora Torrez (Gina Rodriguez) and Terrence Tango (Zachary Levi) whose precocious children – Patty (Everly Cargailla) and Tony (Connor Esterson) – have already tapped into their genetic sleuthing genes.
Sneaking around in their device-laden, sleekly contemporary glass-and-steel home to try to snag extra computer time, Tony is so obsessed with the popular video game Hyskor that he will even resort to cheating to win. On the other hand, his sister Patty insists on total honesty.
But when Tony accidentally helps unscrupulous game developer Rey “The King” Kingston (Billy Magnussen) unleash a potentially deadly computer virus that will allow him to control all technology around the globe, he and Patty must dive into the Hyskor video-game-world, battling robotic adversaries, to retrieve what’s been stolen from their parents.
Their PG-rated action-adventure includes some attention-catching visual challenges, like a super-tech car, loaded with gadgets, building blocks that emerge and disappear, giant fly swatters, along with the need to balance on wobbling platforms in order to reach an underwater safe house.
Robert Rodriguez’s original “Spy Kids” was released in 2001, starring Carla Gugino & Antonio Bandaras with Daryl Sabara &Alexa PenaVega as their kids. Since then, there have been four additional “Spy Kids” installments, including this.
FYI: Hispanic and Latino are often interchangeable terms used to describe Americans with diverse Latin American and Caribbean ancestry. The month-long celebration honors their resilience and determination for independence.
On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “Spy Kids: Armageddon” is a fun, fantastical, family-centric 6, streaming on Netflix.
