Spies Like Us (Snap Case)
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Movie Reviews of Spies Like Us (Snap Case)
Movie Review: Not Quite Vintage 80's -- Chevy & Dan Are Spies Like Us
Summary: 3 Stars
In 1985, comedians (and original Saturday Night Live players) Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd were seemingly at the top of their game in terms of their film careers. Chevy was also starring in "Fletch" and the second "Vacation" movie that year, while Dan was still reaping the fame from "Ghostbusters" the year before. In this mildly amusing satire of Cold War spy flicks, a federal spy agency opts to send out two spy teams (GL-G20's) to complete a hush-hush secret mission in Russia: one team to do the job, and the other unknowingly serving as very expendable decoys.
Enter Chevy as smarmy State Dept. spokesperson Emmett Fitzhume and Dan as a basement-dwelling Pentagon techno-genius, Austin Milbarge. After obnoxiously failing their Foreign Service Board exams (complete with hidden camera footage), the duo is chosen as the GL-G20 pigeons. After a round of amusing training scenes with Bernie Casey as their tough-as-nails instructor, our wise guys are soon sent off to stumble around in Pakistan with the KGB already waiting for them. Soon enough, Chevy and Dan encounter and trail a mysterious blonde (Donna Dixon - Mrs. Aykroyd) and her British colleague who are evidently "spies like us, but not necessarily on our side," as Dan succinctly puts it.
Throughout the film, Chevy and Dan both get their standard quips in as wanna-be secret agents dodging their inept KGB counterparts while tailing their two suspects inside the Soviet border. Yet, there are several long stretches without any genuine laughs (not that the cast isn't trying). Case in point: there is a dreadfully unfunny desert scene where Chevy, Dan, and a group of doctors spend a few minutes inside a tent introducing themselves as "Doctor, Doctor." It wasn't worth a chuckle the first time before the gag inexplicably gets recycled a few moments later (to no avail). Even an unexpected quickie cameo from a true comedy legend immediately thereafter doesn't help jazz things up much (though the inference is a nice wink-wink at the classic "Road to" comedies with Bob Hope & Bing Crosby).
Among the few interesting twists about this movie, including a radio-friendly theme song from Paul McCartney, is the abundance of fast cameos by other film directors and even a jazz legend like B.B. King. Director John Landis evidently has lots of film industry friends, but it's such an inside joke here that few, if any, will get the gag (if there is one). Still, much like the ham-fisted "Rocky IV" did the same year, "Spies Like Us" at least offered some glimmer of possible U.S.-Soviet reconciliation (at least, according to Hollywood). Remember, the Cold War wasn't close to being over at the time, so the underlying message about seeking out peace and nuclear disarmament should be taken in good spirits.
Ultimately, this movie had loads of potential, but the screenwriters simply didn't crank out enough guy humor jokes to match hit comedies like "Caddyshack," "Stripes," "Animal House," and "National Lampoon's Vacation." If a more suitable screenwriting team had worked on this project, "Spies Like Us" likely would have been a real gem. At least, this movie works great as background noise when you are drifting off to sleep.
Rating: 6/10 (For die-hard Chevy and Dan fans only. Great premise, but the end result is a mixed bag of chuckles and misfired jokes).
P.S. Except for the obligatory trailer, there are no other special features on this DVD.
Movie Review: scarificial spies for star wars test
Summary: 3 Stars
In the 80's with Starwars and Afghanistan in the news the
idea of the CIA sending operatives into action
might have seemed funny, but we later found out that the Taliban
was no western friend even after we trained and supplied them.
Here two screw ups are chosen as sacrificial lambs, so
that the real agents will get into the Soviet Union
undetected as UN doctors.
This all backfires as the screw up show more ability to stay alive than
the real well trained agents.
Dan Aykroyd show a lot of comedy promise here, but Chevy Chase seem pretty burnt out.
I liked the movie as pure fun, but
I didn't think it was all that original.
Movie Review: Not Bad
Summary: 3 Stars
Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd have made their share of trash, but this Cold War spoof isn't half-bad. When supported by a solid script, or at least a promising set-up, Chase can be hysterical. And this movies gives him a lot of material to work with. The classroom scene might be the single funniest moment in Chevy's career. With the exception of Caddyshack, his timing has never been this pitch-perfect. Aykroyd, as usual, plays the slightly quirky straight man. Nothing wrong with that, since his better film work usually consists of fulfilling this role (Ghostbusters, Trading Places). Spies Like Us won't blow you mind, but it does have moments of inspiration.Movie Review: I love this movie
Summary: 3 Stars
OK, its not great film. But if you are fans of Akroyd or Chase, or just like to gaffaw at silly movies, this one is a special treat. It helps knowing the people involved. For example, did you know that Donna Dixon who plays the seductive doctor/CIA agent is really Dan's wife! What about the fact that is was taking place in Pakistan, and drops geography names that are on the news now with the pending trouble in Afghanistan? I love the test cheating part, the UFO part, and the shootout at the outpost. Cheap laughs, but belly laughs. One of my arsenal of "make me feel good" movies.Movie Review: Very, very funny!
Summary: 3 Stars
Yet another mediocre movie in a lengthy string of losers for all three of the principals involved here: director John Landis and stars Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase. Chase and Aykroyd play a pair of bumbling would-be CIA agents who are spotted cheating on the entrance exam. So the CIA decides to use them as bait in a mission to flummox the Russians. Lots of pointless slapstick and mugging, but Landis hasn't made a genuinely funny film since Trading Places. This film isn't very clever or funny, but it's not a complete waste of time.