Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams (Score)

Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams (Score) Review

Like its predecessor, this score to director Robert Rodriguez's sequel to the charming, surprise hit Spy Kids is something of a pastiche of spy and action film clichés. More surprisingly, the director himself is credited with writing half of the largely orchestral score, with veteran John Debney writing and collaborating on the balance. To his credit, Rodriguez is quick to point out his novice status and credit the late, great Bernard Herrmann for much of his inspiration. Herrmann fans certainly won't hear much of the master echoed here, save for the Jason and the Argonauts tribute "Skeletons"--tracks like "Spyparents" better recall the original animated Johnny Quest--but it's nonetheless a breezy concoction (played with verve by the new Texas Philharmonic ensemble) that captures much of the film's sense of childlike wonder. Film villain Alan Cumming again gets a delightful vocal turn in the spotlight on "Floop's Dream," while young star Alexa Vega sends up the Bond theme with her vocal on "Isle of Dreams." --Jerry McCulley