Four inept spies steal a top-secret microchip and hide it in a remote-control toy car. Through a baggage mix-up at the airport, grumpy old Mrs Hess (Marian Seldes) gets the toy and gives it to her neighbour, Alex. The spies want the chip back but Alex (Alex D. Linz) is prepared for their visit.
The cartoon violence is even more over the top (and far-fetched) than usual, often relying on the burglars overwhelming stupidity to work. Alex is clever, he attaches a video camera to his new remote-control car and films the bad guys from the comfort of his bedroom. He's also wise enough to call the police but they don't believe him, because he's cried wolf too many times.
Olek Krupa, Rya Kihlstedt, Lenny Von Dohlen and David Thornton are good value, as the four spies. This was one of Scarlett Johansson's first roles (as bitchy older sister Molly.) It's easy to see why she became a big star.
A case of diminishing returns, but this is far better than fans of the earlier movies would have you believe. Passable seasonal entertainment.
FG FG F
DIRECTED BY: Raja Gosnell. SCREENPLAY BY: John Hughes. RUNNING TIME: 102 minutes. CERTIFICATE: PG. USA.
