Today’s quick review: My Spy. After botching an undercover mission, CIA agent JJ (Dave Bautista) is put on surveillance duty with his partner Bobbi (Kristen Schaal). Their targets are Kate (Parisa Fitz-Henley), the sister-in-law of arms dealer Victor Marquez (Greg Gryk), and her daughter Sophie (Chloe Coleman). But when JJ blows his cover, Sophie blackmails him into spending time with her family and teaching her the tricks of his trade.
My Spy is an action comedy about a spy who befriends a nine-year-old girl to maintain his cover. Dave Bautista stars as JJ, an excellent soldier who lacks the subtlety to succeed in his new career as a spy. At the same time, his compassion makes him a great companion for Sophie, a bright young girl who is struggling to find her footing after losing her father. Excellent leads and some fun action make My Spy a thoroughly enjoyable watch.
My Spy is less of a spy movie than it bills itself as. JJ and Bobbi are on a surveillance mission that isn’t expected to pay off, so their duties are limited to watching Kate and keeping Sophie from telling her mother about them. The action is similarly limited to a few sequences near the beginning and the end, although these are flashy enough to make up for lost time.
But even though the spy side of the story moves slowly, the characters more than pick up the slack. Chloe Coleman is a perfect choice for Sophie, who uses blackmail to get JJ to take her places, teach her spy tricks, and even date her mother Kate. Sophie has a knack for catching JJ off-guard, and their easy chemistry is an endless source of humor. At the same time, the simple ways that JJ helps Sophie and Kate gives the movie some heart.
Give My Spy a shot when you are in the mood for something light, funny, and friendly. The movie is not ambitious for an action movie, but its light tone and organic sense of humor make it a fun time for the right viewer. For a more action-packed comedy about a spy befriending a civilian, try RED, Knight and Day, or Central Intelligence. For another offbeat take on spy work, try Spies in Disguise or Get Smart.
[6.4 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8242084/). I give it a 7.0 for great comedy and a good character work.