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A ministry of the ChildCare Action Project: Christian Analysis of American Culture (CAP Ministry) A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Christian Ministry. www.capalert.com/ Entertainment Media Analysis Report A service to His little ones through you in His name by His Word MAR2011.010  (2010), PG [13-PG*] (1hr 29min) The #1 Christian entertainment media analysis service on the Internet. We give you OBJECTIVE tools NO ONE ELSE CAN to help YOU make an informed decision for yourself whether a film is fit for your family. Over 1300 analyses for parents, grandparents, pastors, youth leaders and more. |
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(While the Scriptural references are certainly not subjective, my commentary may be and sometimes is somewhat subjective.)
 Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database Production (US): Relativity Media, Robert Simonds Productions Distribution (US): Lionsgate Hom e Entertainment Director(s): Brian Levant Producer(s): Terri Goddard, Ken Halsband, Ryan Kavanaugh, George Parra, Ira Shuman, Robert Simonds, Solon So, Tucker Tooley Writing Credits: Jonathan Bernstein, James Greer, Gregory Poirier (screenplay): Jonathan Bernstein, James Greer (story) Cinematography/Camera: Dean Cundey Music: David Newman Film Editing: Lawrence Jordan Casting: Nicole Abellera, Jeanne McCarthy Production Design: Stephen J. Lineweaver Art Direction: Bryce Perrin Viewed on Lionsgate Home Entertainment DVD  I just finished watching The Spy Next Door with my family and felt fairly comfortable with it. My personal opinion of the film may change in a couple hours after I finish the scoring calculations and the reality of the content of the film comes clear. There are after all a lot of action violence sequences and several episodes of adolescent disrespect of fair authority. Maybe the action violence sequences in this film do not have killing and gore in them as do many such sequences in more severely rated films, but they are action violence nonetheless. That an act of violence is presented as or in humor does not negate the violence. But The Spy Next Door does seem family-worthy ... except maybe for the violence and for the mouth of 13 year old Farren (Madeline Carroll) for most the show. It does seem that Hollywood thinks early teens are all victims of the "It ain't good enough, no matter what 'it' it" syndrome and that they MUST make sure everyone within earshot or who can see them knows it. As if every living, breathing 13 year old human being on the planet is filled with "I hate [this]! I hate [that]!" I can tell you that some 13 year olds are indeed that way and are indeed that way because of films that tell them they are that way. By the way, Madeline actually was 13 years old in the film. Maybe I sound as if I harp on adolescents being disrespectful of their parents but it is plain wrong for them to do so. And after caring for 42 children 24-7 over 20 years I can tell you how it is wrong ... but other than telling you it is "catching", I won't. There isn't enough room here. And I am not a psychologist (and don't want to be). At any rate, it is wrong to let children, at any age, yell and scream at their parents no matter what the Spocks and Frueds say. By the way, Spock admitted he was wrong: On permissive behavior - by Dr. Benjamin Spock, baby care specialist and Vietnam War objector. He now says, "We have reared a generation of brats. Parents aren't firm enough with their children for fear of losing their love or incurring their resentment. This is a cruel deprivation that we professionals have imposed on mothers and fathers. Of course, we did it with the best of intentions. We didn't realize until it was too late how our know-it-all attitude was undermining the self assurance of parents." And God agrees with Spock (imagine that). God said so. In one of the Ten Commandments, no less. [Exod. 20:12, Deut. 6:7, Prov. 22:15] By the way, I had our TVGuardian turned on and it caught the single use of profanity in this film. A couple faces in The Spy Next Door were familiar and filled support roles: George Lopez of Shark Boy and Lava Girl: Billy Ray Cyrus and Lucas Till, both of Hannah Montana fame. It is odd indeed to see Cyrus as a CIA agent. And equally odd to see Till as a bad guy who likes little girls, 13 year olds to be specific ... with an ulterior motive. The next door neighbor to divorced Gillian (Amber Valletta) and her kids, 13 year old Farren, eight-ish Ian (Will Shadley) and 4 year old Nora (Alina Foley) is Bob Ho (Jackie Chan) of the Far East Pen Importers. Actually Bob is your everyday mild mannered CIA agent. Gillian and Bob have struck up a budding relationship over three months: a relationship of which Nora is all in favor; that Ian and Farren are dead set against ... initially. Bob is on loan from the Chinese Intelligence Service in Hong Kong but is ready to get out of the spy business and settle down -- with Gillian and her kids. Also ready to settle down is Bob's cohort, Agent Glaze (George Lopez) but not with a family and a house surrounded by a white picket fence, rather with the billion dollars he stands to make from an illicit deal with Poldark (Magnus Scheving) for the formula to a growth bacteria hybrid that eats crude oil. From Russia, he plans to hold the world hostage by threatening to have the bacteria eat everybody else's oil. Other than what you see above, the film is little more than another Spy Kids™ formula but is indeed enjoyable. For more information about the content refer to the individual investigation area discussions below or to the Findings/Scoring section which provides an itemized listing of the content findings by investigation area. And the meanies stole a lollipop from one of the Halloweeners and the toy out of a box of Nora's Life™ cereal. Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - Zero out of 100 As I wondered while watching the film, the amount of violence in it, though certainly not as extreme as found in more severely rated films, is rather extensive. The film is indeed so filled with violence on so many levels that the magnitude of the total envelope of violence is equivalent to that of some R-rated films. Not at all because of the intensity or severity of examples of violence but because of so m-a-n-y of them. This is an example of the technique of loading films with tons of "lesser" examples of violence to achieve the effect or feel of the more extreme violence often found in more severely rated films and yet still qualify for a less severe rating. For more information on this technique of loading films, see our CAP Rule of 1000 publication. No matter how tame the violence may seem it is still violence and, as God warns, can lead the observer onto the wrong path. [Prov. 16:29] Impudence/Hate (I) - 10 out of 100 Though there is but one use of profanity in the entire 89 minutes of the film, there are many instances of adolescent disrespect of and arrogance toward adult fair authority. Farren is very bitter due to her father leaving her with Gillian. Farren is not about to let anyone go without seeing her grief. There are many Scriptures advising youth to be respectful of and honor their parents and I have included a few of them in the discussion above. But since the plot has Gillian as Farren's step mother I will add one more verse with which to remind youth to honor those who have charge over them: [1 Pet. 5:5] One more. [Heb. 13:17] And if the one who has charge over the youth is ignoble and abusive by God's standards, God will tend to it. Woe unto the one who abuses one of His little ones. [Luke 17:2] By the way, "little ones" is mikros which includes at-home teens. Sexual Immorality (S) - 63 out of 100 One of the matters that border sexually immoral behaviors in this film is the Russian woman, Tatiana Creel (Katherine Boecher) who wears clothes that are clearly designed to expose much of her chest. Another example of displays of sexual intent include the three examples of inappropriate dress by Farren and defending such dress when the inappropriateness of the dress was pointed out, clearly a ploy by the writers to portray Farren as one who wants to use her body and skin to "communicate." Other matters include Ian speaking with sexual references and inferences. [Eph. 5:4, 1 Ths. 4:7] Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 100 out of 100 This film is free of any appearance of illegal drugs or consumption or possession of them, of any alcohol or tobacco and of any abuse of prescription drugs. Offense to God (O) - 93 out of 100 One time one Bob speaks God's name in vain though without the four letter expletive. [Deut. 5:11] And the film "celebrates" Halloween, which is "all hallow's eve", a celebration of evil on the eve of All Saint's Day, November 1. Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100 There were no murders or suicides noted throughout the entire film. SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION(S) If needed to focus or fortify, applicable text is underlined or bracketed [ ] or bold. If you wish to have full context available, the Blue Letter Bible is a convenient source. If you use the Blue Letter Bible, a new window will open. Close it to return here or use "Window" in your browser's menu bar to alternate between the CAP page and the Blue Letter Bible page. CHAPTER/VERSE ***Selected Scriptures of Armour against the influence of the entertainment industry*** As always, it is best to refer to the Findings/Scoring section -- the heart of the CAP analysis model -- for the most complete assessment possible of this movie. |
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 Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - Zero out of 100 Impudence/Hate (I) - 10 out of 100 • one use of profanity Sexual Immorality (S) - 63 out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 100 out of 100 • none noted Offense to God (O) - 93 out of 100 Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100 • none noted |
| There are some in the entertainment industry who maintain that 1) violent programming is harmless because no studies exist that prove a connection between violent entertainment and aggressive behavior in children, and 2) young people know that television, movies, and video games are simply fantasy. Unfortunately, they are wrong on both accounts." And "Viewing violence may lead to real life violence." I applaud these associations for fortifying 1 Cor. 15:33. Read the rest of the story. From our years of study, I contend that other aberrant behaviors, attitudes, and expressions can be inserted in place of "violence" in that statement. Our Director - Child Psychology Support, a licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist concurs. For example, "Viewing arrogance against fair authority may lead to your kids defying you in real life." Or "Viewing sex may lead to sex in real life." Likewise and especially with impudence, hate and foul language. I further contend that any positive behavior can be inserted in place of "violence" with the same chance or likelihood of being a behavior template for the observer; of being incorporated into the behavior mechanics and/or coping skills of the observer. In choosing your entertainment, please consider carefully the "rest of the story" and our findings. |
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