Spies in disguise

Super spy Lance Sterling and scientist Walter Beckett are almost exact opposites. Lance is smooth, suave and debonair. Walter is not. But what Walter lacks in social skills he makes up for in smarts and invention, creating the awesome gadgets Lance uses on his epic missions. But when events take an unexpected turn, Walter and Lance suddenly have to rely on each other in a whole new way. And if this odd couple can't learn to work as a team, the whole world is in peril.

Critic reviews 

Spies in Disguise would have been a big recommendation, but the film’s insistence on not getting out of the genre’s comfort zone makes you think this is a lost opportunity. 

Mihir Fadnavis Firstpost

If you’re going to cast a family-friendly adventure, you could definitely do worse than Will “Aladdin‘s New Genie” Smith and Tom “Spider-Man” Holland. Sure, they’re only providing their voices in this week’s Spies in Disguise, but not only are they recognizable faces, they’re also genuinely great performers, which means they’re still capable of pretty good chemistry even in animated roles.

 Here, Smith voices top-notch spy Lance Sterling, who finds himself framed for treason and forced to turn to technological whiz kid Walter Beckett (Holland) for help. Unfortunately, that help comes in the form of Walter accidentally transforming Lance into a pigeon, which Lance then uses to his advantage to clear his name and save the world (of course).

 If that all sounds like something you’ve heard before (minus the turning-into-a-pigeon part), it’s probably because Spies in Disguise uses fairly standard spy movie plotting, and some critics thought that made it another forgettable children’s film to add to an already monumental pile.

 Most critics, however, felt Spies was charming enough, with solid work from its cast (which also includes Rashida Jones, Rachel Brosnahan, Karen Gillan, and perennial villain Ben Mendelsohn) and enough color and goofy flourishes to keep younger viewers engaged. If you’re looking for a post-Christmas outing for the whole family, this is a decent option.