Support Shadows: Buy a Poster

There's nothing wrong with the plot, and the London setting is great. But British filmmakers should know better than to fall for every stereotype, not to mention placing a London landmark improbably in the background of virtually every shot. If this had been done with a whiff of charm or wit, we wouldn't mind. But the film does the unforgivable, condescending to its audience as if the kids wouldn't get it unless everything was laid out on a plate. This is something the first film smartly avoided; this sequel is virtually unwatchable for grow-ups.

Fortunately, Muniz is a thoroughly engaging young actor, and Anderson obviously enjoys his zany sidekick role. There's a number of cameos by gifted British comics who are high-profile back home but unrecognisable in the States. So it seems strange that all of them (except perhaps Williams) are lost in cliched, uninteresting roles. And the returning cast members are wasted as well--David's CIA director isn't nearly as oily, parents Stevenson and Roebuck just seem dopey now. Even the budding romance between Muniz and English rose Spearritt feels undercooked and predictable. This is a huge shame, since the first film was both smart and hilarious. It's far too soon to cash in on the franchise.