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Spies in Disguise
Spies in Disguise Final Poster.jpeg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by
  • Troy Quane
  • Nick Bruno
Produced by
  • Peter Chernin
  • Jenno Topping
  • Michael J. Travers
Screenplay by
  • Brad Copeland
  • Lloyd Taylor
Story by Cindy Davis
Starring
Music by Theodore Shapiro
Editing by
  • Randy Trager
  • Christopher Campbell
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release date(s) December 4, 2019 (2019-12-04) (El Capitan Theatre)
December 25, 2019 (2019-12-25) (United States)
Running time 102 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $100 million
Money made $171.6 million

Spies in Disguise is a 2019 American computer-animated spy comedy film produced by Blue Sky Studios and distributed by 20th Century Fox. Loosely inspired on the 2009 animated short Pigeon: Impossible by Lucas Martell, the film is directed by Troy Quane and Nick Bruno from a screenplay by Brad Copeland and Lloyd Taylor, and a story by Cindy Davis. It stars the voices of Will Smith and Tom Holland, alongside Rashida Jones, Ben Mendelsohn, Reba McEntire, Rachel Brosnahan, Karen Gillan, DJ Khaled, and Masi Oka in supporting roles. The plot follows a secret agent (Smith) who is accidentally transformed into a pigeon by an intelligent young scientist (Holland); the two must then work together to stop a revenge-seeking cybernetic terrorist, and return the agent to his human form.

The film premiered at the El Capitan Theatre on December 4, 2019, and was theatrically released in the United States on December 25, 2019. It grossed $171 million worldwide and received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise for the animation, music, humor, and vocal performances (particularly Smith and Holland).

It was the final film produced by Blue Sky Studios following the shutdown of the studio to be enacted in April 2021.

Plot

Lance Sterling, a cocky secret agent of H.T.U.V. (Honor, Trust, Unity and Valor), is sent to recover an attack drone from Japanese arms dealer Katsu Kimura in Japan. As soon as the buyer, cybernetically enhanced terrorist, Killian, arrives, Sterling breaks in against the orders of H.T.U.V. director Joy Jenkins, defeats Kimura and his gang, and manages to escape with the briefcase containing the drone. Sterling returns to H.T.U.V. headquarters to confront Walter Beckett, a socially inept MIT graduate and outcast young scientist, for equipping nonlethal weapons into his suit. Walter tries to convince Sterling that there is a more peaceful way to save the world, but Sterling fires him before he can explain his latest invention: "biodynamic concealment".

Sterling discovers the briefcase to be empty and is confronted by Marcy Kappel, an internal affairs agent, who reveals footage of Sterling (actually Killian in a holographic disguise) leaving with the drone, labeling him as a traitor. Sterling escapes the H.T.U.V. and decides to track down Walter to help him disappear. Meanwhile, Killian breaks into the H.T.U.V. weapons facility.

While searching Walter's home for his invention, Sterling unknowingly ingests the concoction and transforms into a pigeon by undergoing "chromothripsis". Before Walter can start making an antidote to change him back, Marcy and other H.T.U.V. agents chase the duo through the city, but they escape in Sterling's spy car. The two track down Kimura to a resort in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. There, they learn of Killian's whereabouts in Venice, Italy before Marcy and the H.T.U.V. can capture them again. On their way to Venice, Walter attempts to make the antidote, but fails.

Arriving in Venice, Walter is confronted by the H.T.U.V., who are unaware of Sterling's condition. Revealing that she knows about Wendy, Walter's mother who was a police officer who died on duty, Marcy tries to convince him to help turn Sterling in, but Walter refuses. Suddenly, a drone distracts the H.T.U.V. and allows Walter and Sterling to escape. The two discover the drone carrying the H.T.U.V. agent database, and Walter manages to retrieve it. However, Killian shows up, takes the database, and prepares to kill Walter. With help from hundreds of pigeons in the surrounding area, they distract Killian and flee. Disguised as Sterling once more, Killian escapes the H.T.U.V., shaking Marcy's suspicions of Sterling upon her seeing him with a robot hand.

Whilst underwater in a submarine, Walter reveals he planted a tracking device on Killian and locates him at the weapons facility. Walter manages to perfect the antidote and successfully turns Sterling human again. Reaching Killian's hideout, Sterling is concerned about Walter's safety and sends him away in the submarine. Once inside, Sterling confronts Killian, but is knocked out and captured as Killian reveals he has mass-produced hundreds of drones to target everyone at the agency using the database as revenge for killing his crew in a past mission led by Sterling. Noticing Walter returning in the submarine, Killian destroys it; unbeknownst to them, Walter survives with the help of one of his inventions, the inflatable hug.

Once Walter frees Sterling, the two escape and contact Marcy for support as the drones approach H.T.U.V. headquarters in Washington D.C. Walter attempts to hack into Killian's bionic arm but when Killian realizes this, he tries to flee via air with a drone, but Walter catches up. Walter risks his life by trapping Killian in the inflatable hug and deactivates the villain's arm as Walter himself falls, but Sterling, who has turned himself back into a pigeon, successfully flies for the first time and carries him to safety with help from other pigeons, while Killian is found and arrested.

Despite saving the world, Sterling, back in his human form, and Walter are almost fired for disobedience. However, they are quickly rehired by the H.T.U.V. as the agency could learn from Walter's more peaceful ways of handling villainy.

Voice cast

  • Will Smith as Lance Sterling, "the world's most awesome spy," who is accidentally turned into a pigeon.
  • Tom Holland as Walter Beckett, a socially inept scientific genius who graduated from MIT at age 15 and designs gadgets. He inadvertently turns Sterling into a pigeon with a new invention of his and must now help Sterling change back to his human form.
  • Ben Mendelsohn as Killian, a powerful technology-based terrorist mastermind with a left bionic arm which controls an array of weaponized drones that threatens the world. Killian is Sterling's arch-enemy and his main mission objective.
  • Rashida Jones as Marcy Kappel, a security forces agent of internal affairs who is in pursuit of Lance Sterling.
  • Reba McEntire as Joy Jenkins, the director of H.T.U.V. (short for Honor, Trust, Unity and Valor) and Sterling's superior.
  • Rachel Brosnahan as Wendy Beckett, a police officer and Walter's late mother.
  • Karen Gillan as Eyes, an H.T.U.V. specialist in spectral analysis and quantum optical thermography who is paired with Ears.
  • DJ Khaled as Ears, an H.T.U.V. specialist in communications and ultrasonics who is paired with Eyes.
  • Masi Oka as Katsu Kimura, a Japanese arms dealer and an associate to Killian.
  • Carla Jimenez as Geraldine
  • Olly Murs as Junior Agent #1 (Uncredited)
  • Bex Marsh as Italian Tourist
  • Stefania Spampinato as Italian Woman
  • Eddie Mujica as Agency Accountant and Male Tourist
  • Emily Altman as Lead Agency Lab Tech, Scooter Girl
  • Jarrett Bruno as Young Walter
  • Claire Crosby as Unity
  • Randy Trager as Terrance
  • Mark Ronson as Agency Control Room Technician
  • Matthew J. Munn as Weapons Lab Soldier
  • Kimberly Brooks as Lance Sterling's Car (Audi RSQ e-tron)
  • Krizia Bajos as Receptionist
  • Reggie De Leon as Weapons Lab Tech
  • Casey Roberts as Launch Control Voice

South Korean voice actors So Youn [ko] and Jang Min-hyuk provided the voices of Soo-min and Joon respectively, the protagonists in a South Korean television drama Walter is a fan of in the film. Jang also voiced Lance Sterling in the Korean version.

Music

Score

On June 12, 2018, it was reported that Theodore Shapiro was set to compose the film's score. The film's score album was released by Hollywood Records and Fox Music on December 27, 2019.

EP soundtrack

Mark Ronson Presents the Music of Spies in Disguise
EP and soundtrack album by
various artists
Released December 13, 2019 (2019-12-13)
Label RCA Records
Singles from {{{Name}}}

On June 11, 2019, it was announced that Mark Ronson would be the film's executive music producer. Head of Fox Music Danielle Diego expressed excitement at working with Ronson, stating that "his unique blend of vintage soul and funk exceptionally captures the soul of [the] film." On November 22, 2019, an original song for the film entitled "Then There Were Two," performed by Ronson and Anderson .Paak, was released. Two days later, an extended play album titled Mark Ronson Presents the Music of Spies in Disguise was announced, featuring five new songs written for the film as well Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock's "It Takes Two". The EP was released digitally on December 13, 2019 by RCA Records.

Track listing

No. Title Artist(s) Length
1. "Freak of Nature"   Mark Ronson & Dodgr 3:27
2. "Then There Were Two"   Ronson & Anderson Paak 2:32
3. "Fly"   Lucky Daye 2:43
4. "They Gotta Go"   Lil Jon 3:18
5. "Rocket Fuel"   DJ Shadow featuring De La Soul 3:14
6. "It Takes Two"   Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock 5:00
Total length:
20:14

Possible Sequel

In 2021, Troy Quane and Nick Bruno discussed about having the story continuing into a different kind of "Star Trek" themed world. Will Smith and Tom Holland said that they would love to work again and to see the characters continuing their adventure. Quane said, "If the reception gets better, we will probably talk about it."

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Spies in Disguise para niños

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