'The Spy Next Door'
(Jackie Chan, Amber Valletta, et al / DVD / PG / 2010 / LGF)
Overview: 'The Spy Next Door' stars Jackie Chan as Bob Ho, an undercover CIA superspy who decides to give up his career in espionage to settle down with his next-door neighbor and girlfriend, Gillian (Amber Valletta). But Bob has one more mission to complete before Gillian agrees to marry him: winning over her three opinionated kids.
DVD Verdict: 'The Spy Next Door' is a feel-good comedy flick for all ages. Indeed, it was a well-put-together movie and an overall enjoyable experience for both me and my wife. The short of it is that Jackie plays a CIA agent who lives next door (in a CIA house) to a woman (Amber Valletta) that he is falling in love with and she with him.
She happens to be single with three children, two of which totally despise him for being such a geek - played adeptly by Chan with his "geek" glasses and batting eyelashes - and one, the youngest, who kind of likes him. The relationship between Jackie and Amber cannot go any further until he can try to get the kids to accept him, and that's where the story begins. They don't know he's a spy, and he doesn't want to be one anymore.
A friend of mine was complaining about wires being used instead of Jackie going full bore with his stunts and stunt team (Sing Ga Ban or Jackie Chan Stuntman Association). But look, the guy is pushing 60, and most of the "wire" stunts are done by other characters in the movie, not Jackie. Come to think of it, I can only think of one particular instance where Jackie was obviously using wires. Jackie can still perform stunts with the best of them.
Overall, a cute, funny, and wholesome movie for the entire family to enjoy![JL] This is a Widescreen Presentation (2.35:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs and comes with the Special Features of:
Jackie Chan: Stunt master and mentor
Working with the king of action
Adventures in acting with the kids from The Spy Next Door
Bloopers
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