Whether he's doing Sin City or Spy Kids, Rodriguez always infantilizes his audience, jolting our synapses and indulging our slavering desires for goop and gore.

All of these adventures call on Rodriguez's fascination with visual effects, which could be tough on his human cast, but he has the wit to keep them in focus. All up, it's good fun.

Dives straight into whiz-bang gizmoland, opting for "pause, rewind" flourishes. Cute and enjoyable family fare, then, if a little forced.

Childish, unrealistic, and immature - in a good way.