Spymate (2003) User Reviews

Kids liked it

[awhite2600 · 2/10 · 6 March 2006]

I took my two kids aged 7 and 10 to see this movie. They seemed to enjoy it, but I found it to be one of the worst movies I have ever had to sit through.

The plot seems okay on the surface - A chimp who works as a spy. However it all goes downhill from there. There are many silly twists, characters that just don't fit and situations that are completely unbelievable. The film was obviously made on a tight budget and it shows. Nothing seems even remotely real.

The director has made a number of animal movies in the past, specifically the MVP (Most Valuable Primate) and Airbud movies. This is easily his worst yet.

Save your money and go see ANY other kids movie.

A pretty terrible movie...

[johnkemnetz · 1/10 · 7 October 2005]

This was most likely the worst movie I have ever seen. The recipe of putting a monkey named 'Minky', and old lady who can't fit into her leather suit, a stupid bad guy, and an old man spy creates a horrific gumbo of unfunny jokes and 'humorous' actions that aren't even funny to children. I will say, however, that it is a fun movie to watch if you need something to make fun of. The pitiful acting and poor filming make this movie a travesty to modern day movies. Even the extras just make you laugh at their completely unprofessional acting and painful imitations of Japanese people. The plot line is this: super smart girl gets an opportunity to go to a special conference to show her amazing laser. Shock, shock, as it ends up she does not go to any conference, but ends up having to help an evil doctor recreate the impossible 'oxygen laser'. Her father, an ex-spy, finds out and goes to rescue her from the doctor, enlisting the help of his good friend 'Minky' the monkey. Unfunny plot points such as the one in Jamaica in which the monkey speaks in Jamaican to a guy he's is beating up, are all to common. Do not see this movie with the intention of laughing with it. See it with every intention of laughing AT it.

Awful is not enough to describe this movie.

[ilyesl · 1/10 · 5 August 2006]

Not only is this movie awfully directed with plenty of unbelievable (and impossible) situations, but it's blatantly racist. The worst: it's meant for kids!! Talk about encouraging racism! A dangerous movie, probably made by crazed Zionists. The first message conveyed is that Arabs are evil and behind attempts to sabotage peace talks. The chimp is wearing a kind of a Saudi garment. Hint to Arabs looking bad too?? Or not Humans? Sounds like some Zionist leaders calling Palestinians "cockroaches". Then the chimp saves Japan and beats Japanese ninjas worshiping some kind of monkey-god... Wow! What Pat Morita does in that garbage is beyond comprehension! The whole is a vile propaganda stunt from the evil elites of this world.

This Film Should Be Used to Test Explosive.

[anaconda-40658 · 1/10 · 4 July 2015]

Spymate (2006): Dir: Robert Vince / Cast: Emma Roberts, Richard Kind, Chris Potter, Musetta Vander, Pat Morita: For those families who had the misfortune of sitting through garbage such as the M.V.P chimpanzee films, this new entry proves to be even worse. In fact, it is easily one of the worst family film ever concocted. Director Robert Vince hams it up with special effects that are about as fetching as a second grade art project. Chimpanzees are amongst the most intelligent animals on the planet and yet Hollywood throws them into the most unbearably bad films possible. Minkey the chimp is on a mission and unfortunately it doesn't involve leaving for a better film. Emma Roberts plays Amelia Muggins who wins a science award for creating a drill. Richard Kind plays the idiotic Dr. Farley, the world's leading scientist who wants that drill so that he can totally frig up Japan. He convinces the gullible Amelia to go to Japan where he will use her to fine tune this contraption. Chris Potter plays Amelia's dad who was once a spy alongside Minkey. Now he must come out of retirement to rescue his daughter. Musetta Vander plays Dr. Amour, Farley's former partner who cut ties when she learned his true intentions. She joins Potter for the rescue mission. Sadly, Pat Morita passed away after this foolishness where he trains Minkey in martial arts. This film should be used to test explosives. Score: 0 / 10

Kids might like it

[Wizard-8 · 5 July 2011]

Going into this movie, I realized even before it started that I am not the audience for this kind of movie. I am an adult, and this movie was made for kids. While watching it, I did see why kids aged 8 or under might like it. The 10 year old girl is portrayed as being intelligent, there is plenty of slapstick, and what the chimpanzee is portrayed as doing will interest kids.

So kids might like this movie. What will adults think? Well, I will admit that a few things impressed me about the movie. The production values, including filming in several countries, make the movie look slicker and more expensive than typical direct-to-video kiddie flicks. And adults will be impressed by what the chimpanzee trainers were able to do with the chimpanzee. But despite things like these, I found the movie heavy going. It's very simple-minded at times, almost insulting to the intelligence. The movie also portrays some foreign people in a somewhat uncomfortable way that's close to being racist. If parents rent this movie for their kids, I recommend that they exit the living room while their kids watch the movie.

yet another horrible children's movie with a dancing chimp

[megan-b-andrew · 1/10 · 6 January 2012]

Stop abusing intelligent animals to make horrible movies! Its absolutely pathetic that with technology today that a chimpanzee should be dressed up and paraded around to make yet another awful children's movie! Slow clap for the geniuses that made a few bucks on the behalf of a 'talented chimpanzee' we can really tell he/she loves to act just like a person...pathetic! Im not sure about other parents but this is not the false reality I want my children idealizing. The sad thing is that movies like these are watched without any acknowledgment that a living animal is manipulated and made to act like a human! Its so obviously wrong and yet these types of movies are still being made, how backwards is this?? My suggestion stop watching bad movies with no creativity and only a dressed up chimp to go on and just maybe these low grade films will die out!

One of the most thought provoking films of our generation

[LD Kant · 10/10 · 28 December 2006]

Earlier today, I had the pleasure of sitting down and watching this fine work of cinematic beauty. Robert Vince is truly one of the most brilliant writers, producers, and directors that Satan has ever put on this earth. The interaction between the chimpanzee and his human sidekick were truly a joy to behold. The love scene was the only point in the film that did not seem perfectly choreographed. It seemed a little out of place and it was clear that the director had substituted the monkey for a human double. Quite disappointing. Notwithstanding this single indiscretion, however, the film was everything I could ask for in a film and more. I recommend this highly to anyone who is in need of entertainment, except potentially those with suicidal tendencies.

Not outstanding but quite enjoyable

[shelleyegoodman · 7/10 · 12 May 2021]

I watched this movie and while it could have been better, it could have been a LOT worse. The actors are not bad at all and the movie is quite well done; there are several rib-tickling moments and there's not a lot of gratuitous violence. It's not the greatest movie in the world but well worth watching.

oooh oooh aah aaaah chimp funny

[mcniscool · 10/10 · 24 September 2021]

I am no stranger to film, having seen and analyzed all of the greatest films of our generation, from "The Godfather", to "Apocalypse Now", to "Citizen Kane". These films were amazing yes, with stunning cinematography, amazing acting, and beautifully written scripts. But none of these films have left me in awe like this film did. I had seen many chimp-based films in the past, from "Most Extreme Primate" to "Spymate", and with this I had no expectations of anything exceptional or good from this film. But I was mistaken. This beautifully irreverent satire of the classic propagandist spy film demonstrates that our generation is truly in a new renaissance of cinema, with this beautiful piece of artwork serving as our pièce de résistance, our Mona Lisa, our Sistine Chapel. This film gives me confidence, not only in the future of film, but in the future of society as a whole. In a world where art seems to be held second to corperate pandering and American consumerism, this film stands alone as a beacon against the tide of sellout films concerned only with money. And it not only stands alone, but it fights back against the tide, with its brilliant usage of satire and dry humor. It gives us, the viewer, an enthralling plot full of action and suspense, but does not focus on the action as many movies do, but instead focuses on the complex interpersonal relations between Minkey; a chimp spy who was tortured and experimented on by the United States government to transform him into a ruthlessly efficient killer, and unwittingly used as an instrument of American interventionism during the Cold War, until the Soviet Union discovers him, and the US government decides to abandon him, with his life only being protected by his partner, Mike, another US agent who struggles throughout the film between his brainwashed loyalty to the United States government, and his moral compass, in a similar way to the character Joker in the Kubrick film "Full Metal Jacket". The film shows the pair fighting for a cause that is morally ambiguous, doing the dirty work for a country that doesn't care for them. Another great central character is Mike's daughter, Amilea. This masterfully written character demonstrates a sense of total naivety, being unaware of the moral ambiguity and horrors that are truly present in the world. She is coerced by Dr. Farley--another great character--to help him build a weapon of mass destruction in the name of "science", and is central in the fight of moral ambiguity shown in the film. Overall, this chimp film had me in awe, and I will definitely be seeing this another few times. Thank you Robert Vince for delivering me this masterpiece.

Fun first half, than loses a bit of oompf, families will still enjoy it very much!

[inkblot11 · 7/10 · 14 November 2013]

Mike (Chris Potter) is in the spy business, even though he has a young daughter, Amelia (Emma Roberts). After a near disaster however in the Middle East, where he is rescued by his darling, sidekick chimp, Mike gives up his profession. Instead, he and his staff run a small circus, with the small ape as the star. However, can you keep a good spy down? Let's see. Amelia is very smart and she is recruited by a conniving, thieving scientist to work on a project with some glitches. Dad, not realizing anything is amiss, is glad to part with her for a day or so. But, its soon obvious that Amelia has been kidnapped and Mike has to gather the gang and so forth from the Caribbean to Japan to search out his daughter. Will he be successful? This is a fun family flick, with a nice cast and great scenery. Roberts, in one of her first big roles, is adorable, as is her dad and the precocious chimp. Yes, the story loses a bit of dazzle as it goes along but Pat Morita arrives to help keep the movie going. All in all, the flick is a very fine choice for a family night at the movies.

sweet chimp

[jonizen · 10/10 · 7 May 2006]

If there is one thing I know, it is that this is no monkey movie! In actual fact, if one is commenting on knowing anything about monkey movies, one should know that Minkey is a chimp..not a monkey. I have only had a few acting gigs, but when that chimp pulled his skate board out from his back pack and dropped it on the ground, I almost shed a tear. The dojo scene reminded me of a first class Keanu scene from Matrix...or was that Matrix 2...all those movies blend together if you ask me. Lasers, Chimps, and a live action avalanche. It's a recipe for high drama, serious suspense, and a killer delivery from one of the best Chimps on the west coast. A+

Simple fun

[gaboonviper-605-441518 · 7/10 · 29 July 2010]

Nothing about this movie is particularly good. The story, the acting, the characters are all terrible. Don't expect any clever plot developments, original one-liners or anything extraordinary. Then you'll be okay.

I mean, it's a movie about a monkey(alright fine, it's a chimp for all you zoologists, for the rest of us it's a monkey) who happens to be a spy. What did you expect? Oscar-worthy content? But that doesn't mean you can't have fun watching it. Just watch this with your friends and family and I'll guarantee you'll have plenty of laughs.

There's lots of action, absurd spy gadgets, a monkey, circus performers, silly comedy, light drama and a happy ending(this doesn't count as a spoiler does it?). What's not to love?

This movie is chimply-marvelous

[sbriggs12 · 10/10 · 14 April 2014]

Wow, simply all I have to say about this masterpiece of a film. This piece of art provided me with the most ecstatic highs, as well the most emotionally demanding moments of my life. To put it simply, this movie is absolutely a roller coaster of emotion that only slows down to make the oncoming hill even more exciting. The all-star cast is absolutely bananas and our hero, Minkey, can make even the most emotionally stable man break down in tears. My honest recommendation would be to make "Spymates" the only movie available to watch for the rest of time, and to be translated into all languages, since it would eventually bring about world peace and a fundamental understanding of basic humans emotions and culture, no matter its location.

BEST MOVIE EVER

[morganbeard-14133 · 10/10 · 8 May 2022]

This is my fave movie ive watched this movie 365 days of this year and its only may.

Tbf, coulda been more scenes with the monkey (hes name is minkey, how cute) would recommend to anyone, any age, any gender, not for people with monkeyphobia.

10/10!

Return of Lancelot?

[Thing_Kong · 9/10 · 3 January 2007]

I will say that I enjoyed this movie. Yes, it is a children's movie. I wont get your hope up too high, after all, it is a low budget movie. I was reminded of Lancelot link Secret Chimp (1970) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065309/) I would recommend viewing Spymate with the above to appreciate the advances in CGI (Computer Generated Imagery, and animation). See the animation company credits under the link "View all credits". What's it about? Think of it as pure fantasy -with such ideas as a black belt chimpanzee trained for spy work!?!! There are the familiar names of Chris Potter and Debra Jorup (That 70's show- Eric's mom) along with a few newer names to the movie industry.

Happy and pleasing kids movie

[buddyheraut · 10/10 · 28 June 2017]

I am 58 years old and watched this kids-movie together with my wife because we were triggered by negative responses which said that the film was racist and so on. We find it surprisingly entertaining for a kids-movie and enjoyed it very much! So we didn't understand where the hatred towards this movie came from. I'm gonna watch it again!