As a child one of my favorite distractions was the Spy Kids series of films. The series' combination of whimsy, thrilling action and emotional themes created the perfect storm, which captured both my full attention and my heart.

Even so, I hadn't thought about Spy Kids until very recently, when I caught the second movie on cable and decided to watch the third online. Now, I've never particularly been one to wax nostalgic, but it sure took me back to some happier times. Simpler ones. 

So I was sitting there, remembering every noteworthy wisecrack, every gut-busting physical gag, when I fully began to realize the nuances of one of the series' most memorable characters - amusement park owner Dinky Winks, better known as 'The Dinkster', portrayed by Screen Actors Guild, Golden Globe, and Primetime Emmy Award-nominated actor Bill Paxton. 

The revelation of the sheer depth to both The Dinkster's characterization and Paxton's portrayal shook the very foundations of my world; I felt like I was seeing a new color for the first time. Even without his signature catchphrase "Did somebody rink the Dinkster?", which in my opinion is one of the most tremendous lines ever committed to celluloid, The Dinkster is a character of formidable complexity. Paxton's Oscar-worthy performance vibrates with charm and wit, vulnerability and humor, fearfulness and strength, and commands every scene in which he appears. His presence is electrifying, and the grace and razor-sharp skill with which Paxton wrestles the material is pure, unmitigated genius.

The character of The Dinkster himself is one of the most enigmatic, dynamic and compelling creations in 21st century cinema, next to Anton Chigurh in No Country for Old Men. From his first appearance as an impromptu tour guide in The Island of Lost Dreams, to when he joins the final battle against the Toymaker in Game Over, there's an unshakable sense of fácade; both Paxton and the scribe Robert Rodriguez take great pleasure in dissecting the layers of The Dinkster's public face, and the result is a rollercoaster.

The Dinkster, besides many other things, is a troubling mystery to me. Where was he before the theme park? What is he doing now? Like Cheers's Frasier Crane, or Breaking Bad's Saul Goodman, or perhaps Benicio del Toro's hitman character from Denis Villeneuve's Sicario, The Dinkster is a character with limitless potential and limited screen time, which is why I suggest this: a standalone Dinkster film should be made.

I am not alone in judging the fact that The Dinkster is one of the most popular film characters of recent memory: one can infer from a quick google search that The Dinkster is by far the most widely remembered character from the original Spy Kids films, even after the films themselves have fallen into relative obscurity. The Dinkster remains, and demand for his return is high. (I hope.)

I know not what the best course for a standalone Dinkster film would be. A prequel focusing on his roots, perhaps? An ultra-violent, Machete-esque romp showcasing his life after the original trilogy? These are not decisions that I, the average person, have the capacity to make. But I do have the capacity to make one thing clear: The Dinkster deserves a second act, as well as a second spotlight.