In director Martin Campbell’s lightweight “Zorro” sequel, young newcomer Adrian Alonso flat-out steals the show as the spunky progeny of the legendary hero.
Unfortunately, the movie’s biggest strength is also its most glaring weakness: This second, PG-rated installment of the new Zorro franchise is, above all, a children’s movie in the vein of “Are We There Yet” and “Spy Kids,” with Campbell et al making little, if any, effort to gratify the post-pubescent set that turned out in droves to see the PG-13-rated first film.
Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones are delightful again as the swashbuckling masked man and his doughty better half, but this time out they’re reduced to playing second and third fiddle to their pint-sized costar. The director has blunted Zorro’s edge, going to great lengths to ensure no bad guys were seriously harmed in the making of this film. Jealousy mixed with copious amounts of hootch throws Zorro off his game, opening the door for cute little Joaquin to step in and save the day. It’s the stuff of little boys’ fantasies and video games. (Rated PG for sequences of violence/peril and language. Running time: 129 minutes)
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 28, 2005. Read the original PDF.