Review by Steve Rhodes
1½ stars out of 4
The original AGENT CODY BANKS was a fun little film about junior secret agents.
The story was just plausible enough to be credible and the characters were
endearing. But its sequel, AGENT CODY BANKS 2: DESTINATION LONDON, is just
silly and stupid. The original was a kid-friendly film, but the sequel turns
the youngsters into jokes, who are never believable as little CIA agents.
"Remember, trust equals death," super-secret CIA Agent Cody Banks (Frankie
Muniz) is told by his adult trainer. "Now go write that in your lunchbox,
Banks." The original was a good-spirited comedy, but the sequel is just a
ridiculous spoof that would have gone straight to video were it not for the
theatrical success of its predecessor.
The biggest problem with AGENT CODY BANKS 2: DESTINATION LONDON, however, is
that it is Hilary Duffless, since Duff did not sign on for the sequel. In
addition, Muniz, who was a little old for the original, is way too old at
sixteen to repeat his part. If this silly script had any chance of working, it
would be for a fresh face of about eleven to have been offered the lead. When
you dumb-down the script, you have to cut back on the age of the actor to star
in it.
Some jokes aren't too bad. The best of these involve killer Beanie Babies who
don't always perform on command. The plot -- set in London where guys say
things like, "Take your bum off my Bentley." -- involves a bad guy named Victor
Diaz (Keith Allen) who has stolen mind control software. Maybe that is the
problem. It wasn't Don Rhymer who wrote the script but some nefarious mind
control software out to enslave the minds of kids foolish enough to buy tickets
to this dog of a picture.
AGENT CODY BANKS 2: DESTINATION LONDON runs way too long at 1:41. It is rated
PG for "action violence and some crude humor" and would be acceptable for all
ages.
Copyright © 2004 Steve Rhodes
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out of 4
