Spies in Disguise (2019)
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A cocky secret agent and a socially inept scientist must team up after a high-tech mishap leaves the agent transformed into a pigeon.
The story
Lance Sterling, a cocky secret agent of H.T.U.V., is sent to recover an attack drone from a Japanese arms dealer. During the mission, he ignores orders and successfully retrieves the drone, but is later framed as a traitor by an internal affairs agent. To clear his name and escape, he seeks help from Walter Beckett, a socially inept but brilliant young scientist. However, a mishap with Walter's 'biodynamic concealment' invention causes Lance to transform into a pigeon. The two must then navigate a series of complications while trying to stop the cybernetic terrorist Killian from using the stolen technology to wreak havoc.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Lance Sterling, a cocky agent of H.T.U.V., is sent to Japan to recover an attack drone. He successfully retrieves it but is later framed as a traitor by internal affairs agent Marcy Kappel. To escape, Lance seeks help from Walter Beckett, a brilliant but socially inept scientist. After a mishap with Walter's 'biodynamic concealment' invention, Lance is transformed into a pigeon. The duo flees to Mexico and then to Venice, Italy, where they attempt to stop the cybernetic terrorist Killian. Killian seeks revenge for a past mission where Lance's actions led to the death of his crew. During the conflict, Walter manages to turn Lance back into a human, but they are eventually separated. In the final confrontation at H.T.U.V. headquarters in Washington D.C., Walter risks his life to trap Killian in an 'inflatable hug' and deactivate his bionic arm. Lance, briefly turned back into a pigeon, flies Walter to safety. Although initially fired for insubordination, both are quickly rehired as the agency decides to adopt Walter's more peaceful methods.
- First release year
- 2019
- Runtime (minutes)
- 102
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Nick Bruno; Troy Quane
- Writers
- Brad Copeland · screenplay; Lloyd Taylor · screenplay; Cindy Davis · story
- Cast and characters
- Will Smith · Lance Sterling; Tom Holland · Walter Beckett; Ben Mendelsohn · Killian; Rashida Jones · Marcy Kappel; Reba McEntire · Joy Jenkins; Rachel Brosnahan · Wendy Beckett; Karen Gillan · Eyes; DJ Khaled · Ears; Masi Oka · Katsu Kimura
- Genres
- animated; spy comedy; action comedy; adventure comedy
- Themes
- partnership; technology; redemption
- Tone and mood
- comedy; adventure
- Setting
- Japan, Mexico, Venice, Italy, and Washington, D.C.
- Premise and plot tags
- spy; shapeshifting; cybernetic; drones
- Source material / true-story basis
- Pigeon: Impossible (2009)
- Content notes
- children
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews from critics and was well-received by audiences.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 54 · scale: 100 · review count: 22; PostTrak · score: 3.5 · scale: 5
- Production trivia
- It was the last film produced by Blue Sky Studios before the studio was closed in 2021.; The film's budget was estimated at $100 million or more.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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