The Spy Next Door

The Spy Next Door Information

The Spy Next Door is a 2010 American spy comedy family film directed by Brian Levant, and starring Jackie Chan, Amber Valletta, Madeline Carroll, Will Shadley, Alina Foley, Billy Ray Cyrus and George Lopez. Filming started in late October 2008 in New Mexico and was finished in late December 2008. The film was released on January 15, 2010 in the United States. The film was released on DVD, and Blu-ray on May 18, 2010. The film tributes Chan's films by showing clips, references and even referencing Chan's real life childhood.

Plot

Bob Ho is a Chinese agent who decides to retire after moving next to the beautiful Gillian (Amber Valletta) who has three children from previous relationships. Bob and Gillian then start dating but Bob feels he should tell Gillian about his Job. Gillian then goes to visit her father in hospital and leaves Bob to take care of her kids (Madeline Carroll, Will Shadley and Alina Foley). The problems start when one of the youngsters accidentally downloads a file from a top-secret formula on his computer. They are then threatened by the Russian terrorist and Bob's archenemy Anton Poldark (Magnús Scheving). This forces Bob to combine the roles of spy and prospective stepfather in the biggest challenge that he has faced in his career. Bob asks Colton James (Billy Ray Cyrus), his spy partner, to help him, but he's not sure he can trust Colton. The situation is further complicated when a Russian spy, Larry (Lucas Till) attacks Bob, forcing him to tell the children that he is a spy. In addition, Bob learns that his boss, Glaze (George Lopez), is actually working for Poldark and the Russians. And worse, the situation is further complicated when Gillian learns the truth about Bob. Bob then leaves town but Ian and Farren join him and they go to Gillian's house where the terrorists begin attacking Bob. However they are later defeated and Bob and Gillian get back together. Sometime later Bob proposes to Gillian and she accepts. On their wedding day Bob and Gillian are reciting their vows when Bob then tells Gillian his name isn't Bob. She laughs and says it's okay. Gillian accepts Bob and they kiss passionately as the film ends.

Cast

Jackie Chan as Bob Ho: a spy on loan to the CIA. He lives next door to his attractive girlfriend Gillian. Bob retires so he can spend more time with her. His real name is unknown. Bob and Gillian then marry in the end.
Amber Valletta as Gillian: An attractive woman and the next door neighbor, girlfriend and eventual wife of Bob. She is a skilled artist and has had many different relationships before. She is becomes angry when Bob tells her he is a spy but after they defeat the bad guys they start over again. They later get married.
Madeline Carroll as Farren: Gillian's bratty stepdaughter who is 13. Gillian married her real father but then he left. Her mother died when she was young. She has a crush on Larry who works for Poldark.
Will Shadley as Ian: Gillian's son. He at first hates Bob but warms up to him later. He is picked on by two bullies at school. He is 10 years old.
Alina Foley as Nora: She is 4 years old and Gillian's younger daughter. She likes princesses and the colour pink. She likes Bob from the beginning.
Magnús Scheving as Anton Poldark: A Russian terrorist planning on destroying America's water preservers.
Billy Ray Cyrus as Colton James: Bob's spy partner. He is later Bob's best man at his wedding.
George Lopez as Glaze: Bob's boss. He later begins to work for Poldark.
Lucas Till as Larry: A Terrorist working with Poldark. Farren has a crush on him.
Katherine Boecher as Tatiana Creel
Jeff Chase as Russian Thug

Release

Box office

In its first weekend, in the US, The Spy Next Door made $9,726,056 in 2,924 theaters, opening at #6. It grossed $12,877,043 over the four-day period, ranking #5 on that term. The film has grossed $45,082,365 to date on a $28 million budget which, despite the response from critics, makes it a minor commercial success.

Critical reception

The Spy Next Door is generally panned by critics. It holds a "Rotten" 13% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 87 reviews with an average score of 3.5/10. On Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating of 0"100 top reviews from mainstream critics, it holds an average score of 27 based on 21 reviews. Most film critics targeted the film for "lacking a script" such as Michael Phillips of The Chicago Tribune for being "True Lies without the striptease or the Arab-maiming" and Kyle Smith of The New York Post who also claimed the film is "ripping off True Lies."

Lael Loewenstein of Variety gave the film a negative review saying the film's "cartoonish jokes and misfired gags are likely to elicit more eye rolls than laughs." Daniel Eagan of The Hollywood Reporter also disliked the film saying most of the film is "pretty tired stuff from Pacifier-style slapstick to comic relief delivered by, of all people" and that Chan "seems stiff" and "clad in unattractive clothes and forced into dumbed-down situations." David Stratton of At the Movies dismissed the film calling it "a sad viewing experience". He added "The woeful screenplay, the mundane direction, by Brian Levant, and the indifferent acting all combine to sink a stupid plot which should never have got off the ground." Carrie Rickey of The Philadelphia Inquirer gave the film 2½ stars. Rickey, giving the film the benefit of the doubt, wrote "The plot may be forgettable, but the execution is frantic and funny. The Spy Next Door is a movie that will bring smiles to kids " and their grandparents."

Home media

The Spy Next Door was released on DVD and Blu-ray on May 18, 2010.

Awards and nominations

Award	Subject	Nominee	Result
Razzie Award	Worst Supporting Actor	Billy Ray Cyrus	Nominated
Razzie Award	Worst Supporting Actor	George Lopez	Nominated