2002 Fall Movie Guide — I Spy

I Spy

The Players: Eddie Murphy, Owen Wilson, Famke Janssen, Malcolm McDowell, Gary Cole; directed by Betty Thomas (Dr. Dolittle).

The Skinny: This year’s spy craze continues with an update of the hip and funny 1960s TV hit, with Wilson going undercover as Robert Culp‘s secret agent and Murphy breathing life and laughs into Bill Cosby‘s civilian character.

The Bottom Line: Murphy and Wilson promise potent comic by-play, but the name recognition value of the original series isn’t quite as high as, say, Charlie’s Angels and the reported menagerie of screenwriters (seven, including uncredited Ron Bass and Eddie Izzard) has us wondering if this revival has just Cos–er, cause.

Opens: Nov. 1.