Continuing from where we last left them, the highly skilled CIA operative JJ (Dave Bautista) and his stepdaughter Sophie (Chloe Coleman) are happily living together with Sophie’s mum. JJ has taken a desk job with the CIA instead of being an action man in the field, much to the disappointment of his colleagues. More importantly to JJ, though, a desk job means there’s a better chance he will be alive longer instead of dying trying to save the world. Although JJ is content with his CIA job, being Sophie’s father presents his biggest challenge. He struggles to connect with Sophie, the teenager, who often reminds him that he’s not her father.
When Sophie discovers that she and the entire high school choir are going to Italy to perform at the Vatican, JJ agrees to go along as a supervisor, seeing it as an opportunity to demonstrate to Sophie that he can be an excellent father. However, while on the road with the school choir, a new evil plot comes to the surface, and JJ and Sophie find themselves trying to stop a plan involving nuclear weapons. The mission is unlike anything the pair have encountered, and the villain behind it all is mysterious and unknown. It’s also unclear whether the enemy is someone within the CIA or an undercover enemy. Either way, this mysterious villain is always ahead of JJ and Sophie’s movements and plan of attack. Can JJ and Sophie work together once again to save the Vatican and the entire world?
For those who may not be aware, My Spy: The Eternal City is the second instalment following along from My Spy, released in 2020. This was also directed by Peter Segal, who directed the first film. One aspect where the director continues to excel is the continually growing relationship between JJ and Sophie. As Sophie is fourteen, school, relationships and the stress of school studies begin to occupy her mind more frequently. JJ soon learns that dealing with a teenager is a new challenge, and he is pulled back into familiar territory by working in the field with the CIA. If you enjoy Peter Segal’s comedic style, as seen in Get Smart, 50 First Dates, and Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult, you may find many jokes in this film enjoyable.
While the chemistry and character development of the leading heroes are enjoyable, the film fails in other aspects. Although the plot and storyline start with excitement and adventure, the story becomes clunky and confusing. There is much talk about nuclear attacks, passwords, and revenge, but in the end, more needs to be clarified. Every plot hurdle is simply a device to push our leads from one place to the next. The motivation behind the mysterious villain’s actions needed to be more specific and thoroughly explained.
While the previous movie was fun and had some comedic action, this sequel took a back seat in this department. Dave Bautista, known for action roles, has little action in this movie. Instead, the focus is more on Sophie, who has become a skilled fighter, while JJ has become more of a teacher, mentor and parent. Unfortunately, Bautista’s character has also become clumsier and sillier, which I found disappointing and a wasted opportunity. Despite this lack of action, there are moments when Bautista shines, such as when he offers guidance to Sophie. These moments, though rare, are a beacon of hope in an otherwise lacklustre performance. The action scenes could be more enjoyable, but there are some issues with the costumes and makeup, particularly with the character played by actress Anna Faris.
Overall, as someone who enjoyed the previous instalment of My Spy from 2020, I found the sequel to be a significant step down in all aspects. While the two leads have some touching moments of drama and companionship, the humour often misses its mark. The film needed impressive action scenes, as any action that does appear is brief and challenging to enjoy due to the fast movement and dark lighting. Fans of Dave Bautista may also be disappointed to see his character take a significant step back in the action department and instead become a bumbling guy consistently making mistakes while trying to understand his stepdaughter better and save the world from mass destruction. Despite some enjoyable moments, this feels like one big mess and a weaker entry with many missed opportunities as an action comedy.
My Spy: The Eternal City (2024) is Available on Prime Video from July 18th!
4.0/10
18th July 2024
Written by Peter Walkden
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