Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London
One year later, agent Cody Banks is back for another awesome adventure but this time he must track down a former instructor who's gone rogue with a mind-control microchip. Banks masquerades as a musical prodigy to get close to a snobby, egocentric scientist in London who's the only person who can make the microchip work. Along the way Banks hooks up with a demoted agent and a cute-as-a-bug Scotland Yard operative. When Agent Cody Banks heads to England to catch an evil scientist who's stolen a mind-control device for his plot to rule the world and turning the world leaders into zombies!
Working with a respectable budget of $26.0M, the film achieved a modest success with $28.8M in global revenue (+11% profit margin).
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London (2004) showcases carefully calibrated narrative architecture, characteristic of Kevin Allen's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 40 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Cody Banks
Derek Bowman
Emily Sommers
Diaz
Kumar
Lord Kenworth
Main Cast & Characters
Cody Banks
Played by Frankie Muniz
A teenage CIA agent sent to London on an undercover mission to stop a rogue agent from using mind control technology.
Derek Bowman
Played by Keith Allen
A former CIA handler turned rogue agent who plans to use mind control device to manipulate world leaders.
Emily Sommers
Played by Hannah Spearritt
A British music student and clarinet prodigy who becomes Cody's ally and romantic interest in London.
Diaz
Played by Anthony Anderson
Cody's CIA handler and mentor who coordinates the London mission and provides guidance from headquarters.
Kumar
Played by James Faulkner
A bumbling, comedic British agent assigned to work with Cody in London, providing transportation and comic relief.
Lord Kenworth
Played by David Kelly
A respected British dignitary and Emily's benefactor who becomes a target of the mind control plot.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Cody Banks at summer camp teaching music to kids, appearing to be a normal teenager but showing hints of his spy skills and confidence from his previous adventures.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Cody's mission to retrieve the rogue agent goes wrong when he accidentally destroys the CIA director's kitchen with an explosion, getting him kicked out of the agency.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 25 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Cody arrives in London and enters the prestigious music academy, fully committed to his undercover mission. He meets his handler Derek and embraces his new identity as a student., moving from reaction to action.
At 49 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat Cody discovers the full scope of Diaz's plan to mind-control world leaders at the concert, but his cover is blown when he's caught snooping. The stakes are raised and the danger becomes real., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 73 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Cody is captured by Diaz and tied up. Derek appears to be killed (whiff of death). Emily discovers Cody's lies and feels betrayed. The villain has won and the concert is about to begin., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 79 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Cody escapes his bonds using his spy skills and realizes he must work with Emily and trust others rather than going it alone. He synthesizes teamwork with his abilities., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London against these established plot points, we can identify how Kevin Allen utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London within the action genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Cody Banks at summer camp teaching music to kids, appearing to be a normal teenager but showing hints of his spy skills and confidence from his previous adventures.
Theme
Director informs Cody that being a spy means following orders and working within the rules, not going rogue - establishing the theme of learning to work within authority versus going it alone.
Worldbuilding
Cody is revealed to still be working for the CIA. He's assigned to retrieve a fellow teen agent who has gone rogue. We learn about Cody's status as a junior spy and his tendency to improvise rather than follow protocol.
Disruption
Cody's mission to retrieve the rogue agent goes wrong when he accidentally destroys the CIA director's kitchen with an explosion, getting him kicked out of the agency.
Resistance
Cody is recruited by British Intelligence and sent to London to attend an elite music academy as cover while investigating a plot involving mind control. He resists at first but realizes this is his chance to prove himself.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Cody arrives in London and enters the prestigious music academy, fully committed to his undercover mission. He meets his handler Derek and embraces his new identity as a student.
Mirror World
Cody meets Emily, a talented clarinetist at the academy who represents the normal life he cannot have. She challenges him to be genuine and connects with him on a personal level.
Premise
Cody navigates life at the academy while investigating the villain Diaz. He uses spy gadgets, sneaks around, bonds with Emily, and discovers the mind control plot involves the students performing at a royal concert.
Midpoint
Cody discovers the full scope of Diaz's plan to mind-control world leaders at the concert, but his cover is blown when he's caught snooping. The stakes are raised and the danger becomes real.
Opposition
Diaz's henchmen pursue Cody. Emily becomes suspicious of his behavior. Derek is captured. Cody's attempts to stop the plot keep failing, and he's forced to lie more to Emily, straining their relationship.
Collapse
Cody is captured by Diaz and tied up. Derek appears to be killed (whiff of death). Emily discovers Cody's lies and feels betrayed. The villain has won and the concert is about to begin.
Crisis
Cody is at his lowest point, bound and helpless while Diaz gloats. He must find inner resolve and figure out how to escape and stop the plot without his handler or Emily's trust.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Cody escapes his bonds using his spy skills and realizes he must work with Emily and trust others rather than going it alone. He synthesizes teamwork with his abilities.
Synthesis
Cody and Emily team up to stop Diaz at the royal concert. They fight henchmen, disable the mind control device, and save the world leaders. Derek is revealed to be alive. Good triumphs.
Transformation
Cody has learned to work within the system and value teamwork. He's reinstated in the CIA, has earned Emily's forgiveness, and is more mature. The final image shows him confident but no longer a lone wolf.