A super spy and a scientist need to work together when the former turns into a pigeon. Lance Sterling (voiced by Will Smith) is the self-proclaimed ‘World’s Greatest Spy’, and it isn’t an exaggeration. He handles impossible missions with flamboyance thanks to his skills, intelligence, charisma and some handy gadgets. Which brings us to Walter Beckett (voiced by Tom Holland) – a whacky scientist with a penchant for creating non-violent gizmos. Sterling prefers to work alone, but he’s forced to team up with Walter when he accidentally consumes one of the inventor’s concoctions and turns into a pigeon. Sterling and Walter now need to help each other as they take on Killian (voiced by Ben Mendelsohn), who threatens to expose all the spies. Going by the film’s trailer, the pairing of Will Smith and Tom Holland promised to be its highlight, and it is! Both actors turn on their charm to the highest degree, which, combined with their chemistry, is reason enough to watch this animated film from Blue Sky Studios. The plot is almost entirely predictable; this is a combination of a spy-action spoof and buddy comedy, so its direction is pretty much spelt out. Similarly, the plot and character arcs can be outlined within the first act itself. However, there are a few surprises that the film’s marketing managed to conceal. A noticeable aspect is the film’s animation which is visually detailed and will appeal to both adults and kids alike. While the humour is undoubtedly more skewed to younger audiences, parents will find ample to laugh at. Having said that, the novelty of the body-swap idea starts to wear thin after a point, especially when the jokes feel rehashed. But the cast of voice actors doesn’t let your attention waver for too long. Besides Smith and Holland, Ben Mendelsohn relishes yet another negative role as the baddie Killian. Rashida Jones, Karen Gillan and DJ Khaled voice a trio of agents in search of the missing Sterling, and they add to the mayhem. The film has an endearing message about misfits and non-violence which children could undeniably learn from. ‘Spies in Disguise’ may not be revolutionary in any way, but it is a fun and entertaining family film appropriate for the holidays.Read more