Will Smith plays a smooth-talking spy named Lance Sterling, and Tom Holland plays Walter Beckett, a socially awkward scientist. They are almost exact opposites. Lance is debonair, suave and smooth. Walter is… not. That contrast drives Spies in Disguise, a 2019 animated comedy from 20th Century Fox Animation, Blue Sky Studios and Chernin Entertainment. The film premiered at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles on December 4, 2019, and reached theaters in the United States on December 25, 2019 through Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It grossed $172 million against a budget of $100 million.
Trailer, via 20th Century Studios.
Lance and Walter
Lance Sterling is a secret agent of H.T.U.V., an organization whose motto is Honor, Trust, Unity and Valor. He is sent to recover an attack drone from Japanese arms dealer Katsu Kimura. Walter Beckett is a socially inept MIT graduate and outcast young scientist. He creates the awesome gadgets Lance uses on his epic missions. Walter tries to convince Sterling that there is a more peaceful way to save the world. Lance fires him before he can explain his latest invention: “biodynamic concealment.”
The film sets up their partnership early. Lance breaks in against the orders of H.T.U.V. director Joy Jenkins, defeats Kimura and his gang, and escapes with the briefcase containing the drone. He returns to headquarters to confront Walter. The chase through the city follows quickly, with Marcy Kappel, an internal affairs agent, chasing the duo through the city. The two escape in Lance’s spy car.
The Pigeon Twist
Walter’s invention turns Lance into a pigeon. The transformation happens through “chromothripsis,” a process that alters Lance’s appearance entirely. Walter and Lance must work together to stop the revenge-seeking cybernetically enhanced terrorist Killian, voiced by Ben Mendelsohn. The setup is clever. The execution drags.
Killian and the Villain Plan
Killian is the revenge-seeking cybernetic terrorist. He wants Lance dead. He also wants the drone. His plan sends the plot to three locations:
- Playa del Carmen, Mexico
- Venice, Italy
- The H.T.U.V. headquarters
Along the way, Marcy and other H.T.U.V. agents keep chasing the duo. The film keeps switching locations without giving the audience enough time to settle into any of them.
Supporting Cast
The supporting cast fills out the story. Rashida Jones voices Marcy Kappel, the internal affairs agent who labels Lance a traitor. Karen Gillan voices Eyes, and DJ Khaled voices Ears. Reba McEntire voices Joyless, and Rachel Brosnahan voices Wendy. Masi Oka voices Kimura, and Carla Jimenez voices Geraldine. Mark Ronson voices the Agency Control Room Technician, and Toru Uchikado voices Yakuza #1.
Voice Cast Order
The voice cast came together over time. On October 29, 2018, new additions included Ben Mendelsohn, Karen Gillan, Rashida Jones, DJ Khaled and Masi Oka. On July 23, 2019, Reba McEntire and Rachel Brosnahan joined. On September 9, 2019, Carla Jimenez was added as well.
What Works
The humor leans on the mismatch between Lance and Walter. Holland’s awkward energy pairs well with Smith’s smooth delivery. The animation is bright and easy to read. The action sequences are fast and silly. The film knows what it is doing in those moments.
What Doesn’t Work
The plot is thin. Lance escapes headquarters, becomes a pigeon, and then spends the rest of the movie running from Marcy. The stakes feel small. The villain plan is barely explained. The film keeps jumping between Playa del Carmen, Venice and the H.T.U.V. headquarters without building momentum. It feels like a series of set pieces strung together rather than a cohesive story.
The Verdict
Spies in Disguise is a competent animated comedy that never quite reaches its full potential. The pairing of Smith and Holland is the film’s strongest asset. The jokes land some of the time. The animation looks good. But the plot is a mess. The film is too busy moving from one location to the next to let any scene breathe.
This is a film that could have been better. It has a great cast, a solid premise and a budget that allowed for ambitious animation. None of that adds up to a memorable movie. The final product is pleasant but forgettable. It is the kind of film that fills a theater and then disappears.
The film received generally positive reviews from critics.
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