Film Review - Spy x Family Code: White
Images courtesy of Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Spy x Family Code: White returns to fans the espionage, humour and family themes that makes the series so incredibly watchable. Code: White is a non-canon movie that could pass for a longer episode of the show, except with a fun change of setting. The Forger family - comprised of spy Loid, assassin Yor, young telepath Anya, and precognitive dog Bond - go on a weekend vacation to “Frigis”, a picture-esque town with scenery and sense of cosiness reminiscent of alpine villages in Switzerland.
The film took the choice to present to the audience more extreme portrayals of the main characters, specifically the Forger family. This decision is shown in both the comedy and action of the film. Code: White is a masterclass in writing witty comments and animating physical humour. The Forgers continue to consistently make extreme decisions that create comically high stakes over mundane situations - each time this happened creating an eruption of laughter in the theatre audience. I don’t remember the last time I’ve laughed so much at a movie showing. The action is amped to the hundredth degree in the film, with the Forger family going up against a sadistic Colonel and his overwhelming army. These scenes are animatedly beautiful and the action scenes were electrifying. I also found the score to be more impactful and present in Code: White than in the series.
The pacing remains an issue throughout the film, with a slow start where you find yourself wondering when exactly the plot would actually begin. The transition from heartfelt family film in the beginning half of the movie, to the action film at the second half of the movie was slightly disarming. However the balance between James Bond-esque espionage and heartwarming depictions of a found family were well executed throughout the film, just as in the series.
Spy x Family has never taken itself seriously, with ludicrous elements of plot in both the series and movie (without spoiling too much, there is a poop that makes an incredible presence in the plot of the film) but that is what makes the franchise so incredibly funny and loveable. Making sure to cater to both returning fans and new fans alike Code: White is by no means a perfect movie, but for what it is, it remains exemplary of good old fashioned family fun.
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Spy x Family Code: White is screening in cinemas now. For tickets and more info, click here.