My Spy – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

My Spy

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2020

48%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Dave Bautista gets spy-trained by a 9-year-old in this PG-13 action-comedy that's heavier on profanity and explosions than actual family fun.

49%

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My Spy

movie

PG-13, 2020

48%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Dave Bautista gets spy-trained by a 9-year-old in this PG-13 action-comedy that's heavier on profanity and explosions than actual family fun.

49%

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Screenwise Verdict

My Spy wants to be a heartwarming buddy-comedy but trips over its own tone. The kid-spy dynamic has potential, but the film buries it under formulaic action beats, frequent swearing, and violence that's played for laughs in ways that feel lazy rather than clever.

The 49% critic score and 40% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes tell the story: even generous viewers found it mediocre. ParentPreviews gave it a C- and called out 'pointless violence' and 'horrendously bad stereotypes,' while MovieGuide warned it's 'not as family-friendly as it should have been.'

If your tween is 12-13+ and you're fine with PG-13 action and language, it's a passable rainy-day watch—but there are better options. For younger kids, skip it entirely.

Age Fit

Best for kids 12-13+ who can handle PG-13 action violence and don't mind frequent profanity. Younger kids (under 10) will likely be overwhelmed or pick up language you'd rather they didn't. Teens and adults looking for a light, formulaic action-comedy might find it passable but forgettable.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The core relationship between the CIA operative and 9-year-old Sophie has genuine warmth and models an unlikely friendship, but it's undercut by frequent strong profanity (s-, d-, b-, a-, 'Jesus Christ'), crude humor, and stereotypical portrayals that multiple reviewers flagged as 'horrendously bad.' The emotional arc is decent—tough guy learns to care—but the execution leans heavily on violence-as-comedy and language that doesn't model healthy communication for kids.

Imaginative

The premise of a kid 'training' a CIA agent has comedic potential and flips the usual power dynamic, which is mildly clever. But the film follows a paint-by-numbers buddy-comedy template with predictable beats: botched mission, forced surveillance, kid blackmails spy, they bond, climactic showdown. ParentPreviews gave it a C- and called the violence 'pointless,' suggesting the film doesn't do much original with its spy-world setting. It's more derivative than inventive.

Safe

Rated PG-13 for 'action/violence and language.' Multiple sources warn of shootouts, stabbings, explosions, a decapitated head glimpse, and frequent strong profanity. ACCM says 'not suitable for kids under 12,' and MovieGuide flags 'extreme caution for older teenagers,' noting it's 'not as family-friendly as marketing suggests.' The action violence is persistent and played for laughs, which can normalize aggression. Common Sense Media recommends age 13+, reinforcing that younger kids will encounter content that's too intense or inappropriate.

Enriching

There's a clear moral backbone—good defeats evil, loyalty and courage matter—and Sophie is portrayed as smart and resourceful, which is positive representation. The film touches on themes of found family and redemption. However, ParentPreviews criticized it for 'pointless violence' and bad stereotypes, and the overall execution is more about slapstick action than meaningful character development. Kids might enjoy the spy-training montages, but there's limited depth or skill-building beyond surface-level 'be brave' messaging.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Sophie (Chloe Coleman) is sharp, resourceful, and drives the plot—nice to see a kid character with agency
The role-reversal premise (kid blackmails spy into teaching her espionage) has comedic charm
Bautista's physical comedy and timing work well in the fish-out-of-water moments
Clear moral: loyalty, courage, and found family matter—good defeats evil

⚠

What to Watch For

Frequent strong profanity (s-, d-, b-, a-, 'Jesus Christ') throughout—not a movie to put on during family dinner
Action violence is persistent: shootouts, stabbings, explosions, and a brief glimpse of a severed head
Reviewers flagged 'horrendously bad stereotypes' and formulaic plotting
Despite the kid protagonist, this skews older—Common Sense Media and ACCM both say 12-13+ with parental guidance

Conversation Starters

"Sophie blackmails JJ to get what she wants—was that smart, or did it cross a line?"
"JJ starts out pretty cold and violent. What do you think changed him?"
"If you could learn one spy skill, what would it be and why?"
"The movie shows a lot of gunfights and explosions as funny. How do you feel about violence being played for laughs?"

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