My Spy: The Eternal City is a strange film. A sequel to 2020’s My Spy, it brings Dave Bautista and Chloe Coleman back for another round of family-friendly espionage. Keeping the same premise but pushing the timeline forward, My Spy: The Eternal City is not a terrible film, and it has some good comedic moments, but it struggles, especially when it switches into action mode. Directed by Peter Segal, the film attempts to combine action, comedy and coming-of-age elements with mixed results.
The story of My Spy: The Eternal City picks up a few years after the events of the first film. JJ (Bautista) has settled into family life, working a desk job at the CIA and acting as stepfather to Sophie (Coleman). Now 14, Sophie is more interested in typical teenage pursuits than spy training, such as boys and fitting in. When JJ volunteers to chaperone Sophie’s school choir trip to Italy as a way of getting closer to her, their holiday takes an unexpected turn when they become embroiled in an international conspiracy involving the kidnapping of CIA chief David Kim’s (Ken Jeong) son.
What makes the film work at all is the chemistry between Bautista and Coleman, but even with that, it tends to feel forced at times, with the jokes and moments not landing as well as they could. My Spy: The Eternal City looks to explore the evolving relationship between JJ and Sophie as she grows up and comes into her own, but it never quite hits the right emotional notes and, at times, feels oddly forced. Bautista’s performance occasionally comes across as stiff, lacking the endearing awkwardness that he has mastered in many of his more recent films.
The supporting cast works to add some brevity to the proceedings. Kristen Schaal returns as tech expert Bobbi, providing some of the film’s more awkward moments. Ken Jeong reprises his role as David Kim, though he’s given little to do beyond the standard boss-in-distress role that often falls flat. New to the cast is Anna Faris as the vice principal of the high school, and as solid as she has been in previous performances, the writing of her character falls flat for most of the running time. I will say that the newcomer to the series, Flula Borg, makes for a fantastic villain with some great physicality and humour but does feel underutilized.
Beyond awkward moments and failed jokes, the biggest problem with My Spy: The Eternal City is its tonal inconsistency. The film veers wildly between family-friendly comedy, teen drama, and more intense action sequences, leaving a film that appeals to almost no one. I honestly have no idea who the film is for, and I said that out loud as I was watching it. Some of the violence feels out of place for what’s ostensibly a family film, while attempts at edgier humour often feel abrupt and uncomfortable.
I will say that the film looks better than I expected, even if that bar is ridiculously low. The change of setting to Rome adds some visual interest, but the film fails to make the most of its location. Many scenes feel like they could have been shot on any generic backlot, with only occasional glimpses of iconic landmarks to remind us that we’re in Italy. The action sequences are competently staged but lack the inventiveness to really excite, something that is especially disappointing considering the stunning location they used for the film.
If anyone deserves credit, it is Coleman for her performance as Sophie. She convincingly portrays a teenager struggling with identity and independence while maintaining a connection to her unusual family situation. Her fight scenes are impressively choreographed and hint at Sophie’s potential as a future agent. I just wish she had more to do in the film itself. There seems to be a sense that when Coleman is on screen, the action has to devolve into Spy Kids-level antics rather than letting her share in the high-stakes world Bautista lives in.
The script, penned by Jon and Erich Hoeber, along with director Segal, attempts to add some depth to the characters’ relationships. JJ’s struggle to connect with a rapidly maturing Sophie could have been compelling, but convoluted plot machinations and attempts at broad humour often overshadow it. It feels like the writers did not know what they wanted the end result to be, and it shows.
Despite my criticisms, My Spy: The Eternal City is not without its entertaining moments. There are some genuinely funny scenes, mostly from the interplay between the main cast, with some of the dialogue and comedy landing well and giving a real sense of who these characters are when the camera is off.
“My Spy: The Eternal City fails to build meaningfully on what came before.”
I will say that I am glad to see that the film makes use of Dave Bautista‘s physicality in some scenes, and although they are few and far between, they work well for the little time we get to see them. This is a film that follows the Netflix formula, never slowing down enough to allow the audience to get bored, even if what’s on screen is pure nonsense. For viewers simply looking for some light entertainment, this may be enough.
Still, there’s enough chemistry and ideas here that I can’t help but think this sequel represents a missed opportunity. The premise of a burly CIA agent and his precocious protégé had potential for further exploration, but My Spy: The Eternal City fails to build meaningfully on what came before. Instead, it retreats into formulaic action-comedy territory, losing much of what makes the pairing so enjoyable.
My Spy: The Eternal City is a serviceable but forgettable sequel. It is worthy of family board game night but lacks the depth for a serious viewing experience. It may provide some mild amusement for fans of the first film or those looking for undemanding family entertainment. But for anyone hoping for a worthy sequel that builds on the strengths of its predecessor, this mission falls short.
