Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London

I was lucky to get a free preview ticket for this ahead of its official U.K. release. Lucky in that I didn't have to pay to see this film. Because it sucks big time. We are talking hungry anteaters here, people. This film should have been called "Cody Banks Franchise: Destination Oblivion". And this is someone who thoroughly enjoyed the original film. But everything that that film got right, this one manages to get wrong. The great joke in the original film where a teenage secret agent has to get close to a professor's daughter but proves to be completely clueless around women has been junked here and all we are left with is the standard teenage secret agent story. That wouldn't matter so much if we had a great story and great characters but we don't.

Setting it in London would have been a great idea if they had bothered to look beyond the standard cliché English eccentric characters but they don't. This is lazy writing of the highest order (yes, Don Rhymer, I mean you) and throws away every opportunity the setting gives for the story. Why not some cultural misunderstanding between Cody and the English, for instance? Or their disbelief that he is a secret agent. I know this isn't supposed to be taken seriously but this could have been a lot funnier than it is. Instead we get the typical English eccentrics so beloved of Hollywood.

Still, I must confess that the revelation during the concert at Buckingham Palace at the film's finale that Tony Blair is under mind control from an evil mastermind did make me laugh, even though it takes the film dangerously close to realism, something that doesn't occur again throughout the rest of the film (the Blair look-a-like (and sound-a-like) is great though - give that man a medal. For a minute, I was thinking it was the real thing. After his appearance in "The Simpsons", I was beginning to think that maybe Blair was starting to line up a new career for himself for when he gets kicked out of Downing Street).

And if I say that the only person not to disgrace themselves in this film is Hannah Spearritt, then you may some clue about how bad the performances are. Paul Kaye (a.k.a. Dennis Pennis) gives a career-truncating performance as an eccentric Q-type character while Anna Chancellor gets stuck with another posh English woman role after her turn in "What a Girl Wants" (What has this poor woman done to upset her agent? That's what I want to know), Anthony Anderson manages to make his previous performance in "Kangaroo Jack" look a masterpiece of subtlety by comparison and David Kelly is embarrassing as an eccentric butler (a shame as he's usually quite good, as anyone who's seen "Waking Ned" will testify). As for Hannah Spearritt, she makes an appealing easy on-the-eye replacement for Hilary Duff and isn't half bad as the flautist/covert agent, especially given the paucity of the material she was to work with. Given a decent script, she might find herself a career outside of S-Club 7 but after this and the S-Club 7 movie "Seeing Double", like Anna Chancellor, she needs to get herself a new agent first (perhaps she shares the same one as Anna Chancellor). To think this travesty was directed by an Englishman (Kevin Allen) defies belief (what was he thinking of? The pay cheque?). Avoid (like the plague), I beg you!!!

Seeing this movie with three boys aged 4,6 and 7, left me in stitches, sure it's corny, it's rigged, and the acting is so-so, but it's a kids movie and a darned entertaining one at that.

My kids loved it, and the theatre was packed, the laughter was loud and in the end, the cheering was louder! So take the movie at it's face value, it's with kids, and for the kids, and it's entertaining for them, nothing more, nothing more intended by the producers either I would assume!

In my books, the sequel like almost all sequels is not as good as the original, but well crafted nonetheless.

There have been several negative comments on this movie, namely on the choice of casting, and on the quality of acting.

Firstly, I think choosing London as the setting was a brilliant idea (Though I am slightly biased). Not only could British people relate to the film, other countries would also find it interesting.

I also think that it was brilliant casting Hannah Spearritt to play Emily. She is an excellent actress, and suited the character well, and it only furthered her acting ability. I also think Frankie Muniz has matured so much since the first film, and seemed a lot more comfortable.

All in all, I thought it was an excellent film!

Frankie Munaz is so awesome in his younger years and so is Anthony Anderson, their energy is great fun! Sure it's got ridiculous parts but void that out in your mind and you'll enjoy enough for a mediocre rating. Decent story, soundtrack, stunts, and comedy; I say appreciate that. Also the mentos thing is greatness!!

Cody Banks (Frankie Muniz) is a friendly teen but he's really a CIA undercover agent . Nowadays , he goes back as the junior CIA Agent Cody Banks. Diaz (Keith Allen), Cody's CIA trainer at summer camp, robs a mind-control device from the CIA, and getaways to London. Cody is assigned by his chief (Keith David) for one dangerous mission . As Cody flies to London and goes undercover as a clarinet-playing prodigy at an elite music school. Cody must fool the other kids at the school while he pursues Diaz. Cody joins forces with another botcher CIA agent (Anthony Anderson) . Cody finds Diaz and must fight him for the mind-control device. Cody has to use everything he's learned to prove himself as a competent agent and stop Diaz from completing their mission . Save the world. Get the girl. Pass math. Adventure is an attitude.

The plot is a little bit ridiculous , but we're in a spoof comedy and it is narrated in fast-movement ; besides , abound the surprises , being very funny and bemusing . In the film there is suspense , comedy , emotion , action-packed , tongue-in-cheek and chases galore with impressive velocity pursuits . The screenplay is nicely developed as well as characters and the frenetic action united to excellent special effects that are varied of these too . From the beginning until the end the amusement and entertainment is continued . The humor moments are in charge of Frankie Muniz and Anthony Anderson with their abundant botches and goofs that happen when they must confront perils and risks against the villains . Including a thrilling and exciting final facing off between the protagonists and the baddies . It's a spoof of James Bond's films , there're even bizarre artifacts like in ¨007¨ movies , plus a role type ¨Q¨ , a weapon deliverer who teaches the various gadgets which Cody Banks will subsequently use . Sympathetic acting by Frankie Muniz as adolescent agent who is given the job of retrieving a twisted device, before it can be put to evil use. Support cast is pretty good , such as : Hannah Spearritt as a music student , who is really a British secret agent working on the same case , and Anthony Anderson as Cody's CIA handler in London who becomes a cook at the house of the musical benefactor . Furthermore , Cynthia Stevenson , Daniel Roebuck , Keith Allen, Anna Chancellor , James Faulkner , and the veteran David Kelly . And special mention to the habitual villain Santiago Segura , he is terrific as well as hilarious as a peculiar nasty person . Colorful cinematography by Denis Crossan ; filmed on location in London , Knebworth House, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, England, UK Cobham Hall, Kent, England, UK , Buckingham Palace , Canary Wharf Underground Station, Canary Wharf, Isle of Dogs, London, England, UK . Atmospheric and lively musical score by Mark Thomas .

This is a sequel to ¨Agent Cody Banks¨(2003) that directed Harald Zwart (One Night at McCool's , Commando Hamilton , Pink Panther 2) starred by Hilary Duff , Angie Harmon , Cynthia Stevenson , Arnold Vosloo , Keith David , Daniel Roebuck , Ian McShane. This second part motion picture titled ¨Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London¨ (original title) was regular but professionally by Kevin Allen (known for : Flat Lake ,The Big Tease, Under Milk Wood (2015), Y Syrcas (2013) and Spiceworld) . Rating: 5/10 , average but acceptable and passable .