My Spy: The Eternal City – A Disappointing Sequel
In a world disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the fate of 2020’s “My Spy” remains a mystery. The film, featuring CIA operative JJ (Dave Bautista) teaming up with precocious 9-year-old Sophie (Chloe Coleman) to take down an international arms cartel, missed its chance to shine in theaters as it went straight to streaming. Audiences, now more accepting of mediocre content, were left wondering what could have been.
“My Spy: The Eternal City” presents a bizarre mix of comedy and action, with a hint of teen drama. The storyline follows JJ and Chloe navigating their suburban life, with JJ juggling his desk job and stepdad duties while Sophie rebels against her spy training. A school trip to Italy becomes a battleground as they get entangled in a plot to blow up the Vatican.
The sequel brings back familiar faces like Ken Jeong and Kristen Schaal, but fails to deliver a coherent follow-up to the original. Director Pete Segal tries to infuse the film with comedic elements reminiscent of classics like “Kindergarten Cop” and “The Pacifier,” but falls short with unnecessary violence.
From attack budgerigars to crude humor and awkward fight scenes, “My Spy: The Eternal City” struggles to find its footing. Despite the efforts of Bautista and Coleman to recreate their on-screen chemistry, the film fails to live up to its predecessor. Fans of the original may find themselves longing for the days when “My Spy” was considered a decent watch.