Writer: Lester Gan Wai Lun

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Watch this if you liked: “Spy Kids” and “Spy Kids 3D”

With the success of the first and second "Spy Kids" films in 2001 and 2002 and then followed by the disaster of "Spy Kids 3D" in 2003, director and writer of the film Robert Rodriguez is back after 8 years, bringing us to the fourth dimension with "Spy Kids: All The Time In The World". What is the fourth dimension? For the case of this film, each audience will be handed a card which consists of 8 numbers where they will be instructed on how to "scratch and smell" accordingly, as the film plays on the big screen, viewers are introduced to the "Aroma-Scope".

From the various practical jokes to a British talking mechanical dog, it is undoubtedly a fun film for the children to experience. Sadly, that is where it ends. Robert Rodriguez has completely forgotten about the magic he has provided us in the first two films and clearly only has his eyes on the profits he will be able to reap from its success. There's nothing new in this film, even the gadgets used are pretty much the same old ones. It is just lazy work where Robert Rodriguez recycles everything and stamps a "4D" to its title, includes some smell cards and just hope everyone would be okay with it.

When Jessica Alba is in a film, one knows it to be bad without saying its due to her acting. Her role as Marissa Wilson had more screen time than she deserved, her husband Wilbur Wilson played by Joel McHale had no chemistry with her, but we all know who it is to blame. The two new spy kids, Rebecca and Cecil Wilson played by Rowan Blanchard and Mason Cook, while did the best they could, wasn't as captivating as the original ones. So all that jumbles up to one big odd family, and making it even more ridiculous, they've introduced a "spy baby".

The 4D experience was a tad disappointing, yes it is something new, something unique, but it is also nothing special. The smell cards consists of candies and foul scents, one would actually hesitate when it comes to scratching the card to release a fart smell. The effects were just a little bit better compared to 8 years ago, which make sense, since they only have the same amount of budget to work with. The action scenes were the same 'children safe' style, which is great for the kids.

All in all, it's not a film for the average moviegoers but great for the children, or for childish adults (maybe). Although it's not a very big gap of experience one would expect of 4D, it is still a different cinema experience nonetheless.

Cinema Online, 16 August 2011