Agathe-Christine: Next Door Spy Movie Review - Fish Sticks in the Air

This stunning animation needed a glowing script to hit the target.

Agathe-Christine: Next Door Spy or Nabospionen (in Danish) follows a ten-year-old Agathe-Christine or AC (voiced by Simone Edemann Møgelbjerg) craving to mark herself as a renowned detective. In hopes of starting life anew, her mother shifts with them to a new town. Upon arrival, AC wastes no time in setting up her office in the basement. She visits the nearby shop to put up her card on the board. The shopkeeper there gives AC her first case - to catch the thief behind the burglary. He generously offers two weeks, which she overconfidently reduces to one, and that's because she thinks of herself as the black and white, noir version of AC who shows up while daydreaming (or dreaming). In that interpretation, she jumps, climbs, runs, and arrests the culprit by saying, "Fish sticks in the air." But the reality is a bit disappointing. Agathe, like an actual ten-year-old, is clumsy at her job. She struggles with the seatbelt, has trouble opening a door, and is spotted when snooping.

AC's mother doesn't discourage Agathe in her pursuit. One reason could be that she is a police officer and may want AC to join the same work line in the future. Or, of course, she just wants AC to enjoy doing whatever she wants. But what's the deal with the talking lizard? Now, the way he constantly reminds AC to concentrate on the theft can be seen as Agathe's subconscious trying to put her attention to the task at hand. Its appetite for AC's small brother could signify her reluctance in taking care of him. Again, this is a personal interpretation. Next Door Spy doesn't give any concrete evidence, and without it, this plot-point feels unsatisfying.

There is a contrast shown between Agathe and her elder sister. AC is focused, knows what she wants in life, and feels comfortable being weird - her real self. On the other hand, the elder sister glues her eyes on the phone, flirts with the boy next door, and plays tug-of-war with AC. The loser winds up babysitting the little brother. When Agathe asks her to do a makeover on her, you see that the fight comes from the lack of time they spend together and because she does not consider Agathe's appearance in higher standards. I wish these moments had more meat to bite on. It is not fleshed out enough. One can argue the kids to be the target audience of Next Door Spy and hence, the moderate treatment. But when the film has the potential to rise above being okayish, then why settle for vanilla?

In an attempt to get AC on the "normal" track, her mother encourages her to spend time with Vincent (voiced by Oliver Bøtcher), the boy next door. Neither Vincent nor Agathe welcome each other with open arms. And according to the sacred texts, it means the chances of a romance blossoming is too damn high. He takes her to a skating spot, shows her an "easy" trick, and tells her to practice, after which he disappears. Knowing Agathe as she is, curiosity starts dictating within her mind. Where does he go? What does he do? Is he hiding something? Questions morph into suspicion, driving Agathe on his tail (special mention to the Blade Runner-like remote-controlled police car, which helps her to spy in places where she physically couldn't reach). The tracks end at an abandoned factory inside which Vincent talks with someone about some plans. Add on top of it, Vincent's argument with his friend about taking something back, and the little detective forms a case of kidnapping. She also believes Vincent to be the person behind the robbery. How? She cannot exactly explain as it is her instincts. A quote from Agatha Christie's The Mysterious Affair at Styles can be appropriately put here, "Instinct is a marvelous thing. It can neither be explained nor ignored."

The cut-out animation of Next Door Spy is a marvel to look at. In an era where big-budget studios like Disney are pushing CGI animation towards reality, it's refreshing to see a film invoking the childlike innocence of this artistic style. I would gladly recommend Next Door Spy solely based on the animation. The statement may be a bit too rough on a film that certainly has many other redeeming qualities. The film's core, of finding that one good friend, is sweet. The moral, of being comfortable in your own skin in today's photo-filter world, is necessary. And though the people around Agathe are not as colorful as the surrounding, it is the commitment towards her task, despite facing hurdles, that provides vibrancy. Movies like Agathe-Christine: Next Door Spy helps the young generation to find this missing piece.

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