Of course some of these reviews may end up a bit short. So expect to see "Watched (film X). It was shite." at some point.
For Day 3 we shall be discussing...
Teen agent Cody is sent after an agent who has gone rogue with some top secret Mind Control technology in his back pocket. Undercover in London as a musical prodigy in an International Youth Orchestra, Cody must stop the deranged Victor Diaz before he can set his plans in motion.
It would probably help if his London handler wasn't an idiot. It would also be easier to pass as a youth musician if he knew how to play a damn instrument.
I saw the first "Cody Banks" film years ago and rather enjoyed it, mainly because it had the delightful Angie Harmon and the acting god that is Ian McShane in it. "Cody Banks 2" had neither of these people so while I still wanted to see this film, I wasn't in any great rush.
The other day I found "ACB2" on sale at a price I couldn't resist so added it to the pile and away I went.
As a proud Briton I was a bit less than chuffed at the film's depiction of us. The first Englishman that gets any major screen time is a tea-drinking, bucktoothed eccentric straight out of a carry on film. (Paul Kaye, hamming it up for Queen, Country and Saint George) The second and third are a pair of cartoon aristocrats of the sort that became an endangered species in the mid 1950. In fact, any Brit with dialogue is an annoying stereotype. The one exception is Hannah Spearitt, late of teenpoppers S Club 7, and about the only UK resident not depicted as an utter twit.
The villain is Keith Allen - another Brit - but since he's trying to play an American, he doesn't count. Note the word "trying"
Mind you, the International Youth Orchestra are all national stereotypes as well.
I suppose this film was intended for teenagers and American teenagers at that, so I suppose I should be glad Dick Van Dyke doesn't show up as a cockney.
Now I've got that out of the way, on to the film. As comedy spy movies go, it's not that bad, especially since it's a comedy spy movie aimed at a family audience. You get some nifty gadgets, some slapstick and enough actual thrills to keep things moving along.
I could have done without comic foil Derek though. Most of the time he isn't that amusing.
Cody himself is a bit obnoxious at times but hey! Teenager! And Frankie Muniz does get the sheer oddness of his life down nicely - in the field he's competent. In a room full of other teenagers, he's awkward and out of his depth.
Keith Allen and Hannah Spearitt get the job done with no real surprises. It's good enough to work but doesn't give the film that extra shine McShane and Harmon brought to the first one.
I did like the chase scene with the moped and the special flashlight, by the way. A nice idea and if I ever make my own film I'm nicking it. I also quite liked seeing what happens when a CIA agent tries to commandeer a vehicle in London rush hour. ("No. Now naff off.")
How much did this film cost me: 25p That's right. 25 British pence. There is almost nothing you can buy these days for that amount of money.
Was it worth it. Yes. Cody Banks 2 isn't as good as the first one and if you're British may piss you off a wee bit. But it's watchable enough. Your kids might like it more than you do, though.
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