Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London
Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London
Tags: Agent, Banks, Cody, Destination, London
This entry was posted on July 24, 2010 at 9:56 am and is filed under Videos On Demand. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
I saw Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London in theaters. From what I had seen in the previews, I was expecting to be at least as good as, if not better than, the first one. When the movie was over, I was very satisfied. It was just as good as the first one. It would have been much better if they had cut out the scene with the crazy guy who was supplying Cody’s gadgets. Other than that, I give it two thumbs up. I can hardly wait until it comes out on DVD!!!
Rating: 5 / 5
…or is London ready for Agent Cody Banks? After tackling his domestic American homeland with sheer machoism and a dedicated bravery, Agent Banks (Frankie Muniz) is off on another dangerously exciting adventure, except this installment takes place in jolly old London. Agent Banks, with an endless arsenal of gadgets in hand, must take on a madman head-to head, who’s intent is to control the world’s monetary supply through means of an orally-implanted microchip, which makes robots out of humans. Banks is sent to London in the guise of a music student, so as not to blow any sort of cover as a CIA spy. The film’s formulaic plot tends to work for the most part, although it exudes clumsiness and silliness in places, as to how Banks’ nemises are going to install EVERY microchip into BILLIONS of citizens’, including some 200+ world leaders’ brains. That’s A LOT of people to operate on a person-to-person basis! Hannah Spearritt, as Frankie Muniz’s co-star and British-agent-extraordinare Emily, although not Angie Harmon, is able to take matters into her own hands, while putting in a noble performance all the while. She really knows how to put the bad guys in their place, so don’t mess with her! Yes, “Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London” almost has it all (despite a minor display of nonsensical nuances). Amongst the good things it has: arsenal (gadgets), architecture, arch-rivals, even an A-bomb-type exploding candy! “ACB2:DL” even boasts a heapin’ helpin’ of soul food. Hmm, grits and chitlins…ON BRITISH SOIL?!!? Verrry interrresting, and obnoxiously strange to boot! Are you all packed and ready for take-off yet? Your airline ticket (and passport)’s waiting just for you at your local theater. Be sure and claim them today!
Rating: 4 / 5
I don’t expect kid and family movies to be perfect or an tightly woven cinematic experience. Destination London has a few great gags to make everyone of all ages laugh. I felt it went overboard on some of the characters especially Derek, Cody’s handler. The writer’s could have tone him down a little bit. Anthony Anderson, who pays Derek, did a fine job.
Frankie Muniz plays the role well and doesn’t act like a kid who is trying to glide through a second movie like some actors tend to do in a sequel to a successful movie. If there is a third movie, I’m all for it.
The basic plot is the leader of the “camp,” which is a training spot for kid spies in disguise goes rogue and heads to London with technology that can control the minds of anyone and make them do anything you want them to do. This is dangerous when you think of controlling the minds of the world leaders. Cody goes undercover as a musician, which was the most logical way for the agency to get someone “inside.”
This is more of a 3.5 not a 3 and I just couldn’t give it a 4 because I save those for very good movies and 5s for perfection. Treat it as a fun movie and you’ll enjoy it.
Rating: 3 / 5
When I saw this movie I wasn’t expecting it to be as entertaining as the original. However, this movie has a solid plot for a youth spy caper and is a bit funnier than the original. Frankie Muniz is likable as the serendipitous child CIA agent, who begins the film at CIA summer camp. After the camp director turns out to be a rogue agent who has stolen mind control technology Cody is sent to London to help catch the rogue agent and stop the devious plans that have been made to use the mind control technology to gain control of world leaders. Seeing dignitaries (including the Queen of England character) dancing to the tune of “War…what is it Good For?” at a “G7″ event is amusing, and Cody’s CIA “handler” posing as a bumbling chef specializing in Southern cuisine is also suited to this type of movie. I’m still trying to figure out when Cody’s parents will discover he is really a spy – I guess that humorous plot device can be recycled in Cody Banks 3. Well, anyway, this is a fun, fast-paced movie that can entertain children and adults.
Rating: 4 / 5
Frankie Muniz returns as the teenage CIA super-secret operative in “Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London.”
THE STORY:
CIA teen operative Cody Banks is called back into action to head to England undercover as a musical prodigy to stop a mad scientist and a CIA turncoat from unleashing an all-powerful mind control technology on the world’s leaders at the World Summit.
THE COOL THINGS:
Again, if you’re into cool spy movies full of action, cool weapons and gadgets, you’ll love the next installment in the Cody Banks series. All the charm from the first movie and similar movies in the genre (a la Spy Kids) are here in this film.
Anthony Anderson’s role as Bank’s “handler” for this film was also a solid cast as he added much more comic relief to this year’s film. “Uncle Compton.” HA!!!!
THE CRITICISMS:
The film did lose a bit of a step from last year’s original in terms of story pacing though. The scenes with Bank’s family were filler at best and seemed to be a bit thrown in. Also, the “romance” between Bank’s and his counterpart this year was just waaay below the “cutesy” romance he shared with the Hilary Duff character last year. So if you’re into the films for the “Banks Girl” intrigue you’ll be disappointed. However, possibilities are left open as this year’s British girl character is a counterpart to Cody Banks in more ways than one.
BEST SCENES:
1. Raid at Camp Woody
2. Spying Down the Chimney
3. Bottled Water Battle
4. The Final Battle scenes
THE VERDICT:
Perfectly good and acceptable family fun. It’s definitely worth the check-out if you’re into these type of films.
Final Grade: 4/5
Recommended
Rating: 4 / 5