it works well enough; Will Smith is engaged, the pigeons are funny.. But like Blue Sky's more actively irritating films, it's made with a pervasive sense of the animation market, rather than the animators' recognizable sensibilities
if the film had the confidence to dial in on the labels of heroes and villains and the complex dynamics they share, it would have functioned as something refreshing and positively challenging for both kids and adults
better in conception than execution, "Spies In Disguise" never really gets the best out of its "James Bond Is A Pigeon" high concept. The result is entertaining while it lasts, but won't lodge itself permanently in your memory bank
based on the cleverly titled short film "Pigeon: Impossible", Nick Bruno and Troy Quane's directorial debut mixes up spy films tropes, silly humor, and a surprising number of anti-drone warfare messages into an amiable, if forgettable animated outing
as with so many family animations right now, I felt that the script stays on the safe side, with fewer smart lines and ironic gags than I might have wished for, but this is a good-natured entertainment
"Spies in Disguise" makes good use of its oddball premise and two voice stars (Will Smith and Tom Holland) with a riff on spy thrillers that's fun for the whole family
