Street Scene

“I Spy” Starring Eddie Murphy and Owen
Wilson Columbia Tristar Pictures

What “I Spy” lacks in plot and originality, it makes
up with genuine laughs and the great comedic duo of Eddie Murphy
and Owen Wilson. “I Spy” is a watered-down mixture of
“Austin Powers” and “James Bond” in terms
of its action and humor. Eddie Murphy gives a strong performance as
the fast-talking, obnoxious and hilarious World Boxing Champion
Kelly Robinson. And Murphy has finally found a worthy sidekick in
Wilson as the two share moments that seem like pure stand-up comedy
material. The problem is, the actors were obviously forced to work
very hard to create this chemistry, as they were surrounded by a
not even mildly interesting plot, or any cool supporting spy
gadgets or stunts. Owen Wilson, known for his comedic quirkiness in
movies such as “The Royal Tenenbaums,” superbly
complements Murphy’s we’ve-seen-this-before Axel Foley
schtick. The supporting actors really fail to rise to that level.
Famke Janssen, aka Dr. Jean Grey from “X-Men,” does
what she can with a poorly developed character, which is very
little, in this PG-13 flick. Also mundane is the role of the
arch-villain, played by Malcolm McDowell, known for his spooky
abilities as the narrator in Stanley Kubrick’s “A
Clockwork Orange.” Altogether, the movie is a wonderful
example of how Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson can keep the audience
entertained while the people behind the camera have their backs
turned. -Mark Zabezhinsky

“The Santa Clause 2″ Starring Tim Allen and
Judge Reinhold Walt Disney Pictures

The sweeping opening shots of “The Santa Clause 2″
pan over the elf village under the North Pole’s surface,
introducing a merry snow-filled city constantly in a state of
last-minute Christmas production. Sliding from rooftop to
rooftop, the display pays an unintentional tribute to a computer
generated imagery version of the Peter Pan ride at Disneyland,
eliminating any doubt that the rest of the movie on the screen will
be a Disney product. And like “Peter Pan,” “The
Santa Clause 2″ follows directly on the path of childhood
storytelling for which Disney is known. Magic abounds on screen;
Santa (Tim Allen) even has a magic-meter on his watch as he tries
to find a wife to fill the “Mrs. Clause” of the Santa
contract. Talking animals tell jokes ““ the reindeer
communicate in some form of simplified Elvish. A clear antagonist
exists; an evil, cloned version of Santa convinces himself every
child is bad and closes down all toy production, causing a major
work-stoppage among the elves.  Still, “The Santa Clause
2″ cannot compare to the Disney family classics. Where the
classics thrive on meshing childish and parental humor together,
“The Santa Clause 2″ drives a sharp, deliberate wedge
between them. Smacking an elf into a trash can pleases kids,
and a reference to Charlie Sheen pleases adults, but no joke or
reference can please both groups simultaneously. The first
“Santa Clause” didn’t go out of the
plotline’s way for a joke as its sequel does. 
Sandwiched between childlike goofiness and sweet parental mush,
“The Santa Clause 2″ simply plays to the audience it
knows it already has. -Jake Tracer