Directors: Nick Bruno, Troy Quane
Starring: Tom Holland, Will Smith, Karen Gillan, Ben Mendelsohn, Rashida Jones, Masi Oka
20th Century Fox
Running Time: 101 min
Rated PG
Release Date: Mar 10, 2020
Film: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars
Talk about a hot voice cast including Tom Holland (“Spider-Man” franchise), Will Smith (“Men in Black”). I really wanted to love this film, but it didn’t really hit it home for me. There are parts I really liked but I wanted this to be so much funnier. The supporting cast also are fantastic including Karen Gillan (“Jumanji” franchise), Ben Mendelsohn (“Ready Player One”), Rashida Jones (“Parks and Recreation”). The action is hot in the film. The gadgets are fun also. I can’t see myself watching this film over and over again, but I don’t regret seeing it once. Kids will definitely dig it as my 8-year-old loved it.
Official Premise: In this high-flying animated comedy, super spy Lance Sterling (Will Smith) and scientist Walter Beckett (Tom Holland) are almost exact opposites. Lance is smooth, suave and debonair. Walter is none of the above. But this unlikely duo must team up for the ultimate mission to save the world when a “biodynamic concealment” experiment transforms Lance into a brave, fierce, majestic…pigeon!
The Blu-ray 1080p transfer is solid! The colors and the animation really pop. The film definitely has a nice style to it and the transfer works really well. The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 also delivers the film’s action perfectly. There are also Spanish and French tracks included on the disc, but they are only Dolby Digital 5.1, which is quite the drop-in quality.
The Blu-ray edition of Spies In Disguise includes a “Super Secret Spy Mode,” which is an immersive, in-movie experience which delivers Easter eggs, fun facts, and behind-the-scenes insights into the making of the film. Get the thrill of the movie while enjoying it, definitely the best of both worlds. I wish that more Blu-rays came with features like this. Usually, I can’t get my daughter to sit through the special features since she they lose her attention but this one was interactive and added a lot to the film.
The rest of the special features included are “Infiltrating Blue Sky Studios”, which goes inside the studio that made the film, pretty cool stuff. There is a featurette called “The Top Secret Guide to Gadgets”. The music in this film is important there are two music videos includes as well as behind-the-scene looks into both of the songs, “Then There Were Two” and “Freak of Nature”.
Next up, there are a few featurettes on the behind-the-scenes into the production including a gallery of images as well as Color Keys and Moment Paintings, Character Designs and Props and Gadgets Concept Art. Lastly the Blu-ray combo pack includes a DVD copy of the film as well as a digital code.