Such a fun movie. So pure, so adolescent, so intelligent and never condescending. Such a meager DVD. So barren, thin and pedestrian. How could Dimension let this happen? As bizarre as it seems, it makes sense, with a little explaining.
In March, “”Spy Kids”” burst into theaters, roared to the top of the box office charts, and stayed there. The film’s whimsical blend of intrigue and pubescent excitement attracted audiences of all ages, introducing them to two pint-sized child stars on the rise, Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara. The children play Carmen and Juni Cortez, feuding siblings who must work together when they learn that their parents, who lead double lives as secret agents, have been kidnapped. Informed by their Uncle Felix (Cheech Marin) of their parents predicament, Carmen and Juni take matters into their own technologically-equipped hands and set out to rescue their mom and dad from the hands of Fegan Floop (Alan Cumming), the wicked host of a children’s television show who plans to take over the world using an army of robot children, dubbed “”spy kids.”” Considering his filmography, which ranges from the gory (“”From Dusk Til Dawn””) to the gritty (“”Desperado””), Robert Rodriguez appears an odd choice for a children’s adventure, but the material couldn’t be in better hands. The usually bare-bones director brushes up on his technical skills, matching the staggering amount of heart found in all of his films with eye-popping special effects and inventive devices. Rodriguez also never forgets his material. Part of the film’s charm is Vega and Sabara’s remarkable ability to behave like actual children when another flick might have mistakenly force-fed them adult lines. Their innocence establishes the film’s pervasive mood, and Rodriguez just punches up the requisite filler. Grade: B+ THE EXTRAS Here’s the catch: anticipating a future “”Special Edition”” DVD, the current “”Spy Kids”” disc offers very little besides the film. Not that the film isn’t worth it. It is, and the digital transfer ranks high (though the sound is a little flat). Still, save for the trailer and a few kid-friendly promotional plugs for Miramax features, there’s nothing here. Grade: D- OVERALL EXPERIENCE Just because Buena Vista plans a “”Special Edition”” DVD doesn’t excuse the studio for trying to profit from their successful film. “”Spy Kids”” surely has an immense fan base, but I’m sure they could have waited for the better-quality disc to come out. Now that Blockbuster and the like are stocking up on current DVD titles, “”Spy Kids”” suddenly ranks as the best rental available, but don’t buy it until the more comprehensive DVD comes out next year. Final Grade: C- Reviewed by Sean O’Connell