Kelly Robinson: Eddie Murphy	Rachel: Famke Janssen
Alexander Scott: Owen Wilson	Carlos: Gary Cole
Gundars: Malcolm McDowell	Director: Betty Thomas

30 Second Bottom Line: Alexander Scott (Owen Wilson) is one of the United States' top secret agents. A dangerous weapon of war, a jet called the Switch Blade, is loose on the market and being sold by an international criminal named Gundars (Malcolm McDowell). It is up to the CIA to recruit a partner for Scott to gain control of the Switch Blade in Budapest. Who else would be better than the undefeated champion¾and most egotistical boxer in the United States, Kelly Robinson (Eddie Murphy), who has a boxing match in Budapest the day after the auction for the Switch Blade? The answer it appears is no one could be better.

Story Line: After an opening scene focusing on Alexander Scott's clumsiness, though he is one of America's top secret agents, Scott is called back into action immediately in an emergency situation. Carlos, the world's best spy, is unavailable as he's on vacation. Alexander is very surprised by the details of his case.

The most famous boxer in the US, Kelly Robinson, who also has an ego the size of the Continent, is set to have a huge boxing match in Budapest in a few nights. One of the most dangerous international

criminals in the world, Gundars, is hosting a tremendously important party in Budapest the night before the match. The purpose of that bash is to auction off an illegal plane, which can turn invisible. The CIA thinks that Scott and Robinson will form a great partnership in order to steal the plane from Gundars and bring it back safely to the United States.

Yet time is running out until the party and the match in Budapest, and it is apparent that Robinson and Scott will have a lot of personality differences to work out. Scott hates the egotistical Robinson before they even meet, and Robinson basically dislikes anyone who doesn't worship him or who is not an attractive female. Expect the same buddy, action comedy you've probably seen countless times in the past.

Tell Me More About It: I Spy isn't necessarily a bad movie rather than a non-risk taking movie. I've seen this type of buddy movie so many times in the past, and yet this one almost succeeds because at times it is very funny. Yet weak action scenes and a silly plot bring this movie to a below-recommended level.

First and foremost, I am happy to see the return of the funny Eddie Murphy. After two horrible and unfunny comedies (Showtime) and the worst movie of this year thus far, The Adventures of Pluto Nash), Murphy finally works with some material that gives him some really good jokes. Owen Wilson, another one of the funniest faces in the past few years, is also really good and funny as the opposite of Robinson. Seeing these two hilarious actors onscreen together with great chemistry almost saves the movie - almost.

The rest of the film is all over the place. The plot tries to have a few twists towards the end, but the twists become just plain old silly. The action scenes are poorly choreographed and poorly photographed. Famke Janssen isn't given much to work with, which doesn't allow her to stand out at all as another agent helping out Scott, and who Scott secretly has a crush on. Malcolm McDowell is given such little material to work with in this movie, I think the movie wouldn't have been much different if they gave the villain role to somebody else. Overall, the plot is just tiresome and unoriginal.

Thankfully, another saving grace to the movie is the small role played by Gary Cole in the role of Carlos, the best agent in the world. His onscreen presence is funny, and he is given some good dialogue.

I am not familiar with the television show I Spy from the 1960's, but I am aware that the plot in this movie is only similar in that the two main characters are one civilian and one secret agent. Why even call it a remake you wonder?

I Spy fails at providing anything fresh to the buddy cop flick genre. Yet, if you like Eddie Murphy (even if Eddie Murphy has disappointed you recently), or are an Owen Wilson fan, you will not be disappointed by them. Not only are they the best part of this movie, but they are very funny and entertaining. If you aren't that big a fan of either of these actors, you may want to look elsewhere for a good action or buddy cop movie.

Eddie Murphy: Beverly Hills Cop	Famke Janssen: Don't Say a Word
Owen Wilson: Shanghai Noon	Malcolm McDowell: Just Visiting