Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams (2002)

Directed by: Robert Rodriguez | 100 minutes | action, comedy, family, adventure, fantasy, science fiction | Actors: Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino, Alexa Vega, Daryl Sabara, Steve Buscemi, Mike Judge, Danny Trejo, Cheech Marin, Matt O’Leary, Emily Osment, Ricardo Montalban, Holland Taylor, Alan Cumming, Taylor Momsen, Christopher McDonald, Bill Paxton, Tony Shalhoub

The Cortez spy family suffers from competition from the Giggles family, another spy family employed by the OSS. Father Gregorio Cortez is improperly passed over for directorship in favor of Donnagon Giggles (Mike Judge) and Donnagon’s children are equally crafty. Gary (Matt O’Leary) and Gerti (Emily Osment) surreptitiously get a promotion to spy level 1 and on top of that the highly sought after Ukata mission originally intended for Juni and Carmen. Not only that, Juni is also fired. Fortunately, Carmen is an expert at hacking the most secure computer systems, including that of the OSS. She repairs the damage as much as possible and she and Juni leave on the Ukata mission after all.

Carmen and Juni reach the island of Leeke Leeke, a kind of Bermuda triangle, which cannot be detected by any satellite and where technical aids prove to be ineffective. They end up with the learned Romero. He lives like a prisoner in his high-security house, terrified of his own monstrous creations. What started as a successful experiment to develop miniature zoos for children, ended in hybrid creatures on which he also spilled too much growth medium. The scientist has made yet another invention, the transmooker, a device that puts world domination within reach and thus a highly sought-after object.

Just like in ‘Spy Kids’ (2001), the pace is nice and fast and the sets, gadgets and adventures are very inventive and wonderfully bizarre. Robert Rodriguez did not take advantage of the success of the first part, but delivered an equally special product that stands alone and is at least as well cared for. Of course, the importance of a close family bond is emphasized again and saving the world is self-evident, but even more fun is that the technical gadgets and inventions are used extensively, but at the same time it is propagated that children should rely on their own intelligence. In this way, the film puts its own high tech into perspective without detracting from it. The acting in this film is again very witty and full of sparkling fun. The machismo of Antonio Banderas not wanting anyone to interfere with his helmsmanship is very funny. Very beautiful is the role of Steve Buscemi who lives as a prisoner on his idyllic, tropical island. He carefully hides from his own failed creations for fear of what they might do to him. He wonders if perhaps God never shows himself on earth for a similar reason. This remark is less strange than it seems at first glance, because on a miniature version of his island he can observe everything and everyone in the smallest detail. An interesting parallel.

‘Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams’ is just as wonderful an adventure film for young and old as its predecessor. The plot twists are even sharper, the characters more vigorous and the tension more intense. Enjoyed it.