The names of the characters in Spy Kids, such as Floop, give a Willy Wonka-espionage-in-fun verbal as well as visual tone to the film, and the thumb-shaped henchmen of Floop seem like a tribute to the Wonka oompah-loompas. For students of Rodriquez, Spy Kids may not be the director's most significant film, but it is an argument that the director, even when making a mainstream Hollywood genre film, has a clear vision as a filmmaker. He is unapologetic in his call for the centrality of Hispanic life and ordinary Hispanic heroism in cinema. His heroes are ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances, yet capable of showing grit and wit and rising to the occasion when needed. His heroes take themselves as...

Spy Kids. The Chicago Sun Times. March 30, 2001. March 15, 2010.
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20010330/REVIEWS/103300302/1023

El Mariachi. Directed by Roger Rodriquez. 1992.

Mitchell, Elvis. Spy Kids. The New York Times. March 30, 2001. March 15, 2010.

http://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/30/arts/30SPY.html

Spy Kids. Directed by Roger Rodriquez 2001.

Zacharek, Stephanie. Spy Kids. Salon.com. March 30, 2001. March 15, 2010.

http://www.salon.com/entertainment/movies/review/2001/03/30/spy_kids/index.html?CP=IMD&DN=110