Spies in Disguise

Spies in Disguise has a lightness in its humor and a thoughtfulness in its discussion of how to solve problems, with a great voice acting turn from Will Smith.

It's bright and breezy from start to finish, with an intelligent and humorous script, and engaging voice performances from Smith, Holland and Mendelsohn.

There are some nice action set pieces, fights and chases. But the real fun lies in Beckett's "biodynamic concealment" experiment which misfires and turns Sterling into a pigeon, or "flying mouse" as he hatefully calls them.

The formula of Spies in Disguise doesn't exactly turn into sludge, but first-time directors Nick Bruno and Troy Quane don't have it quite perfect, either.

With its giddy pace and dizzying action set pieces, it's an enjoyable holiday watch for family audiences.

Geek and hero make for a decent enough odd couple; geek and pigeon are often a hoot.

Walter's determination that problems can be solved in a non-violent manner gives parents a great opportunity to reinforce this idea with kids.

...impressive visuals, high-octane action, humour, and strong performances from the voice cast...

Spies in Disguise is the best thing Will Smith has made in years; maybe he'll use it as a springboard toward better live action choices in the future.

Buoyant enough to entertain the eye but the messages for kids about the benefits of being part of a flock and celebrating one's differences are expertly woven throughout.