The Spy Next Door
Lionsgate | Release Date: January 15, 2010 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
27
METASCORE
Generally unfavorable reviews based on 21 Critic Reviews
Positive:
1
Mixed:
7
Negative:
13
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
63
Philadelphia InquirerCarrie Rickey
The plot may be forgettable, but the execution is frantic and funny. The Spy Next Door is a movie that will bring smiles to kids - and their grandparents. Read full review
50
The Hollywood ReporterDaniel Eagan
Most of The Spy Next Door is pretty tired stuff from "Pacifier"-style slapstick to comic relief delivered by, of all people, erstwhile country star Billy Ray Cyrus. Read full review
50
SalonStephanie Zacharek
There's nothing wrong with Chan's making a silly comedy for kids. But he's got more in him than grinning, nodding and falling down a lot. All he needs is a filmmaker who's ready to let him to make that leap. Read full review
42
The A.V. ClubScott Tobias
Chan’s anything-goes affability keeps the film from scraping bottom. Read full review
40
VarietyLael Loewenstein
Chan struggles gamely to charm, but the picture's cartoonish jokes and misfired gags are likely to elicit more eye rolls than laughs. Read full review
40
Village VoiceMelissa Anderson
Immediately forgettable family entertainment, suitable for release only in the dung-heap month of January. Read full review
40
The New York TimesA.O. Scott
The outtakes are not all that great but still better than anything else in the movie. Read full review
40
Boxoffice MagazineWade Major
While it never quite rises above the problems inherent in the material, The Spy Next Door does shine in those moments when Jackie and his stunt crew are permitted to do what they do best. Read full review
38
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
Everybody knew to wait for the outtakes during the closing credits, because you'd see him miss a fire escape or land wrong in the truck going under the bridge. Now the outtakes involve his use of the English language. Read full review
38
Chicago TribuneMichael Phillips
This is “True Lies” without the striptease or the Arab-maiming. Read full review
38
Boston GlobeTy Burr
The film’s so formulaic your 6-year-old will be ticking off the plot points as they lope by. Read full review
38
USA TodayClaudia Puig
Chan has more chemistry with the kids than with Valletta, but the story is so insipid that it's likely to only sadden fans of the martial-arts icon and offer little enjoyment to its young audience. Read full review
30
Chicago ReaderAndrea Gronvall
In middle age Jackie Chan can't keep coasting on boyish charm, as evidenced by this dreadful family comedy that does him no favors with its opening title sequence. Read full review
30
TimeRichard Corliss
That imperishable affability, that eagerness to please his Hollywood bosses, allows Chan to elude many of the indignities thrown his way in The Spy Next Door. It may also be the reason he says yes to a junky movie like this. Read full review
25
Orlando SentinelRoger Moore
Limp and lifeless, this Next Door neighbor should be evicted to DVD. Read full review
25
San Francisco ChronicleAmy Biancolli
A mostly inoffensive nothing of a film with one or two mild chuckles and lots of chop-socky commotion. Read full review
25
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Jennie Punter
Chan's comedic gifts and still-nimble moves are wasted in a string of unimaginative household calamities and practical jokes. Read full review
25
New York PostKyle Smith
The makers of The Spy Next Door should give 50 percent of their profits to James Cameron for ripping off "True Lies." Let's see, what's 50 percent of nothing? Read full review
20
Time OutJoshua Rothkopf
The little action here will disappoint fans; it’s way too choppy. Read full review
20
New York Daily NewsElizabeth Weitzman
The movie even has the nerve to start with a montage of moments from his better films, a bad idea that sets off an escalating tumble downhill. Read full review
0
Austin ChronicleMarc Savlov
Nobody of Chan's legendary stature should ever have to play second banana to George Lopez, and certainly not in a film that was already made five years ago with Vin Diesel (see: The Pacifier). Read full review
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