The Guys Are Really Spies Or Something`?

What would happen if a talkative guy and a dull agent team up with each other and become spies?

Asserting themselves spies as indicated by the title, "I Spy" is a hilarious adventure featuring the espionage activities by a team of two unmatchable individuals.

An international weapons trader steals Switch Blade, an invisible stealth bomber that has been created in a classified project of the United States. To get close to the weapons trader (Malcolm McDowell), the US authorities need someone who the trade would not suspect of. The authorities get to know that the trade is an avid fan of undefeated middle-weight champion Kelly (Eddie Murphy). Then, they ask Kelly to work for them in tracking down the missing bomber. Kelly, teamed up with spy agent Alex (Own Wilson), fly over to Budapest where a secret auction is to be held.

Alex, always being given a cold shoulder from the agency, recycles socks to make a mask for penetration, and carries with him a wiretapping device of the size of a iron, which keeps falling off when attached. On the other hand, Kelly is more interested in doing the spy stuff than in completing the mission.

The whole story is a little old-fashioned: two guys, who would not stop fighting with each other, finally become real buddies. The film, therefore, hinges its success on the teamwork of the two main actors, and, in this respect, Murphy and Wilson are cut out for each other. Their comic teamwork stands out, for example, in a scene where Alex, who has loved his fellow agent Rachel, tries courting her in an awkward form upon coaching by Kelly.

Viewers, however, should not let themselves down by expecting powerful action scenes. It`s a comedy: nothing more, nothing less. In fact, some scenes contain chasing and explosion. But, once familiar with the powerful Hollywood actions, viewers would not get satisfied. It is a remake of a famous US TV series in the mid-1960s. Directed by a female director Betty Thomas who shot Dr. Dollittle. PG-12. Coming to the theater on Feb. 7th.

Hee-Kyung Kim susanna@donga.com