My Spy is touted as a family-friendly spy movie. But with its violent action sequences and PG-13 rating, is it kid-friendly? I’m breaking down all of the thematic elements in my My Spy Parent Movie Review to help YOU decide if it’s safe for kids. As always, no spoilers!
My Spy Parent Movie Review
My Spy was original slated to be released in theaters April 17th, however, the world had other plans when the Coronavirus hit the United States. It was pushed to Amazon Prime with a June 26th release date.
When I initially saw the trailers for My Spy, I was pretty excited! Kids love spy movies, right?! It seemed like a fun enough movie I could enjoy with my kids. However, when I saw it was rated PG-13, I was slightly wary. Could this rating be because of the violence, or something more?
The Story
My Spy is about CIA agent JJ (Dave Bautista) who is sent undercover to watch over Sophie’s (Chloe Coleman) family. JJ is strong and intimidating and never expects his cover to be blown by a 9 year old girl. Sophie proceeds to blackmail JJ or she will blow his cover!
The Visuals
When you think of a spy movie, you automatically assume there will be some cool special effects. However, you’d be surprised to know that a lot of it is done with CGI! In my interview with Chloe Coleman, she shared that the scene with the big explosion was completely done in CGI. You would seriously never guess it, as it looks unbelievably real!
Is My Spy Kid-Friendly?
While My Spy is action packed and full of funny moments, is it safe for kids? My Spy is rated PG-13 for action/violence and language. It has a running time of 1 hour and 40 minutes and is pretty fast-paced. I didn’t find myself bored watching this movie. It was the perfect length. Let’s take a closer look at that PG-13 rating.
Violence: A spy movie is almost guaranteed to contain some level of violence, and My Spy did not disappoint. From the opening scene, this film is action-packed. We’re talking guns, grenades, stabbings…you get the point. Yet while it is violent, it is not gory, you don’t see much blood or anything too graphic.
Language: Here’s where my main issue comes in. My Spy is loaded with bad language. Much more than I expected. I mean, it is rated PG-13, so maybe I should have expected it? But when you’re marketing a film as “family-friendly,” there shouldn’t be an abundance of poor language. Here are a few phrases that caught my attention: “He’s screwed,” “I’ll shut him up,” “Kicking ass,” “I can’t feel my nuts,” “ass,” “bitch,” and “damn.” Also, the word “WTF” is written in a text…which my 10 year old did ask me what that meant.
Adult Content: There’s a little bit of romance between two of the characters, but nothing over-the-top. There’s also a scene where the Moms of Sophie’s school are admiring JJ’s tattoos.
Age Recommendation: I watched My Spy with my 10 year old son, and let me tell you, he looked at me every single time bad language was used. I didn’t even attempt this movie with my 6 year old, as I knew it wouldn’t hold his interest, or be appropriate for him to watch. If you’re okay with your kids hearing some swear words, then I would say ages 10 and up would be okay. However, I also feel a lot of it comes down to the maturity level of your child.
My Spy Key Messages
There are some great takeaways in this movie, don’t think it’s just full of action. My Spy has heart. Once JJ meets Sophie, we get to see a different side of his character. A softer side. Sophie refers to JJ as “damaged and alone.” For a young child, she’s incredibly intuitive. These two characters couldn’t be more opposite, but together they just click.
JJ and Sophie are the perfect pair. Together they’re a great team and compliment one another well. They’re exactly what the other one needed.
Overall Thoughts:
While My Spy is a bit predictable and cliche, this movie has heart. If you can look past the language issues, it has the potential to be enjoyed with your family. Dave Bautista might be the big name in this movie, but it’s Chloe Coleman who steals the show. You’ll be cheering for her feisty character, Sophie, the whole way through…pinky promise! My Spy is available on Amazon Prime today!
About My Spy
My Spy follows JJ a hardened CIA operative (Dave Bautista) who has been demoted and finds himself at the mercy of a precocious 9-year-old girl, named Sophie (Chloe Coleman) where he has been sent undercover begrudgingly to surveil her family. When Sophie discovers hidden cameras in her apartment, she uses her tech savviness to locate where the surveillance operation is set. In exchange for not blowing JJ’s cover Sophie convinces him to spend time with her and teach her to be a spy. Despite his reluctance JJ finds he is no match for Sophie’s disarming charm and wit.
I hope you enjoyed this My Spy Parent Movie Review. Will you be seeing this film with your family?
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