When Alex Rider's uncle is killed, Britain's MI6 (think of the CIA but with an accent) recruit Alex. But will this junior James Bond save the day or end up the same way his uncle did?

Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker - Rider, Alex Rider

Alex Rider doesn't know it but his uncle and guardian (Ewan McGregor) is a spy for MI6. When his uncle is killed in the line of duty, MI6 makes Alex an offer he can't refuse and he's whisked away to begin his spy training.

Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker - Danger is his Middle Name

Alex is then sent undercover as a gaming nerd to investigate a computer tycoon whose new project is not all it seems. Alex manages to perform dare-devil stunts, out-fight and out-wit the bad guys and still has time to make doe-eyes at his crush-of-the-moment. But Alex isn't going it totally alone - he has a crack team of advisors, gadget-guys and one seriously smoking nanny (Alicia Silverstone).

Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker - The Bottom Line

There are some pretty cool fight sequences in this flick, including one undersea scrap with an octopus that will put you off your local all-you-can-eat seafood buffet for years. The film strikes a good balance between action and comedy and has mostly solid performances - with the notable exception of Alicia Silverstone whose wooden performance is painful. The film comes up short on originality, however, and doesn't ever really try to distinguish itself from the scores of Spy Kids/Cody Banks/James Bond films already out there. Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker is supposed to be the first film in a series based on the Alex Rider novels by Anthony Horowitz but it seems unlikely that this film will garner enough attention to make a second film worthwhile.

Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker Rating:

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