Written and directed by Robert Rodriguez.

Talk about a huge disappointment. Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over is actually the worst sequel I have seen this summer.  The original Spy Kids (2001) was one of the best family films to be released-- imaginative, original and should be in any true movie buffs DVD collection.  The first sequel, Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams, was a fun movie but not up to the originals standard.  The final chapter in the trilogy is a total waste of anyones time.

The movie is, of course, in 3-D and the 3-D is really, really crappy.  I saw the movie with my cousins and we all got headaches just from watching the movie.  The 3-D glasses are the antiquated red and blue spectacles.  All through production, I heard how amazing the 3-D technology was, the same technology was used in James Camerons Ghosts of the Abyss, and it was a major disappointment.  When you use 3-D, dont let the edges of the screen cut you off.  Put everything in the center so it will look more 3-D and it wont mess up the visuals.

After about 30 minutes I gave up with the visuals, which were extraordinary in the first two, and tried to focus (get it) on the story.  This time around we follow Juni (Daryl Sabara) who was betrayed by his employers at the OSS and now operates as private investigator.  He then is contacted by Devlin (George Clooney) and told that his sister, Carmen (Alexa Vega), has been kidnapped.  We learn that her mind his being held inside Game Over, the next BIG video game released for the V Box and was created by the Toymaker (Sylvester Stallone).  Juni then enters the game and tries to get to level four where his sister is and then must progress to the unbeatable level five.

The movie obviously uses 3-D to cover up for HUGE plot holes. We never learn how Juni was betrayed, why exactly does the Toymaker want to control our nations youth, and why at the end of each of these movies does the bad guy suddenly turn good. 

The movie, it would seem, would be the perfect comeback for Sly, whose last few movies have gone directly to video.  But Robert Rodriguez, a fine filmmaker whose other films I have all liked, obviously rushed into making this movie.  The first movie came out just two years ago and a movie a year is rushing it a bit.  The only good thing about this mess is George Clooney doing an impersonation of Sylvester Stallone, it made me laugh and laugh.  If you want to see a sequel this summer that is an enjoyable good time, see X2, The Matrix Reloaded, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, Bad Boys II, or Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life.  Just stay far away from this or rent the original or the first sequel.