I think part of the novelty, to me, is seeing Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase in the same film together. We leave national security in your hands. The script is amusing, but it's by no means gut busting. I would recommend it to fans of the old Road movies, as well. Coming Soon. Of course there are flaws, and it probably could've been better...but for what it's worth, I think it's definitely worth owning, let alone watching. | Rating: 1/4 War Games in 1983 is another entertaining approach to this topic, though with less comedy and more suspense. | | Indignation at the all… Despite the comedic prowess of its director and two leads, Spies Like Us appears to disavow all knowledge of how to make the viewer laugh. The image is an example of a ticket confirmation email that AMC sent you when you purchased your ticket. The first part was funny when they fail to perform the appendectomy to a patient. Spies Like Us 378. by L. Russell Records. Often funny film boasts no less then 10 film directors on screen in small roles. He has a fun concept here but the comedy and the overall arc of the storyline is a little off. John Landis the filmmaker has had a checkered career of hits and misses, one truly horrible Beverly Hills Cop sequel. Comedies like "Dr. Strangelove" and "Spies Like Us" make one long for the Cold War, when they could actually make such comedies. They got their big break when the attack enemy lines and bomb out the foreign police. Once Chase and Aykroyd actually get to Russia, the eccentric road movie gives way to WWIII farce that just doesn't click. Chevy Chase character is undeniably the funnier out of the two, but like I said only funny to the point of creating a couple of wry smiles here and there. The percentage of Approved Tomatometer Critics who have given this movie a positive review. Spies Like Us, an Album by Elmer Bernstein. Soon it becomes clear that the hapless pair are being used as decoys to expose the Russians for a Cold War nuclear showdown. Hilarious Cold War comedy from John Landis in the tradition of the classic Hope & Crosby 'Road' movies. The key to the film is Chase and Aykroyd who are quite good and never appear to be coasting. There's a host of peripheral stars, like William Prince and the always excellent Bernie Casey, not to mention a cameo by none other than Bob Hope. A cold war comedy that brims with mid-1980s style, Landis' film has multiple memorable moments but not much staying power. Although the same cast today would find itself on the video shelf and not the movie theaters, for the mid 80's this was a GIANT of a Hollywood cast. | Fresh (8) | Rotten (17). … So, at the very least, this is better than that. It might as well have been career ending, cause outside of appearing in Community for like three or four seasons (and getting fired from said show because everyone hated working with him), Chevy has done literally nothing. One more thing, perhaps the funniest scene in any movie happens early on. In the end it's a randomly transfixing buddy comedy in the vein of a Bob Hope/ Bing Crosby film (which the former has a sudden cameo in) that has two clueless undercover operatives used as foils to distract KGB from the actual operatives with an assignment. Chase and Aykroyd have always set the mid-80's standard of what was funny, and this movie proves it. |, March 9, 2006 The movie received so-so reviews but performed strongly at the box office. ...may never reach comic heights but, nonetheless, maintains a good-natured charm. | Rating: 2/5 Just below that it reads "Ticket Confirmation#:" followed by a 10-digit number. It should've been funnier, but it's got a nostalgic tone and Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd, while not being as great a comedic duo as their names might suggest, still have enough solid chemistry to carry a lot this. | Rating: 1/5, June 19, 2005 Sidney Poitier’s 7 Most Memorable Performances, All Harry Potter Movies Ranked Worst to Best by Tomatometer. Don't have an account? These two collide (comically) with each other in a complicated scheme orchestrated by rebellious military and civillians where they are used as a "distraction" from the real mission. review of another edition Spies Like Us is the story of Gator and Wilhelmina. |, June 24, 2006 It was ultra funny when the two faux spies checked out the missile and the crew-persons who came out of the tent. In the latter, government employees Emmett Fitzhume (Chevy Chase) and Austin Milbarge (Dan Aykroyd) are recruited for something. This movie has some great comic elements as well as good action scenes with decent stunts. Dan Ackroyd stars as the typical CIA think-tank intelligence analyst and Chevy Chase is our answer to the inept, stupid, lazy and bungling agent who wouldn't even pass the first interview in the REAL world of spying. At least the men ended up being heroes. This saw the first pairing of comedians Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd (who later appear in 'Caddyshack II and 'Nothing but Trouble') in a John Landis successfully directed espionage/ Cold War comedy. 30/10/2018. Not saying this is bad, not even close, it's only just average. |, September 4, 2010 By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy FAQ The comedy strives for some dark political satire but it does not achieve this and struggles to maintain interest in the end of the world plot device. They think that they're going to be spies, but they're really decoys for some saber-rattling between the US and USSR. Spies Like Us Reviews Austin Millbarge (Dan Aykroyd) and Emmett Fitz-Hume (Chevy Chase) are a pair of bumbling government workers handpicked by the CIA to … I mean it's Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd working in the same movie when both were at their peak as comedians. 3 out of 5 stars! Dan and Chevy really make the movie work. Best deal on a movie I've ever seen. Despite the comedic prowess of its director and two leads, The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth, Best Netflix Shows and Series To Binge (January 2021), The 100 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now (January 2021), 100 Best Movies on Amazon Prime To Watch (January 2021). We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future. Beluga: More or less — but that’s all just an angle — part of the complex agent’s “legend” we’re maintaining, as we were taught back on that ice-bound training compound north of Omsk, all those years ago. Having been raised in the 90's I missed out on many of those fantastic 80's films. However, the film kind of falls apart in the last act and at times the story is sacrificed for jokes. Landis never bothers to account for the friendship that springs up spontaneously between these two antipathetic types, but then he never bothers to account for anything in this loose progression of recycled Abbott and Costello riffs. Woyzeck Spies Like Us Review: Spies Like Us, brings cohesion and fluidity to Büchner’s play, a piece of work with a fragmented history. Funny, side-splitting, and totally non-stop laughter to make this movie worth its while. Spies Like Us, his latest, ranks with his poorest efforts, in which strange people start out in extraordinary situations and the lead characters have a pig-out; pushing for wildness, Landis gets mired in crudity (as in Animal House). Second to only Doctor Strangelove, what other comedy is funnier when dealing with American / Russian relations during the cold war? Please reference “Error Code 2121” when contacting customer service. Directed by John Landis, Spies Like Us is an ’80s buddy comedy. With Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, Mark Stewart, Sean Daniel. Review by Travis Lytle ★★★ Profiting from the personalities of its stars, John Landis' "Spies Like Us" is a lot of inconsequential fun. And the script never seems to find the right balance between road movie and spy send-up. Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd were at the height of their professional careers with the 80's "masterpiece" Spies Like Us. The comical situations that occur in the second half are as funny as any Blake Edwards production. View All Available Formats & Editions. Thankfully it is currently available in HD on the PlayStation network. Not without its flaws, but it's a perfectly harmless movie to watch. Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd team up for the Cold War comedy Spies Like Us. Hardcover. The film does lose its steam when they cross the border into the Soviet Union. Cinemark Awards And guess what, it deserves to be one! You know, once I saw this on Netflix, I knew I was gonna watch it that same night, there was absolutely no hesitation from my part. Although the same cast today would find itself on the video shelf and not the movie theaters, for the mid 80's this was a GIANT of a Hollywood cast. When I left for Origins In June, Monkey238 doled out a dossier filled with details of two missions: have fun and don’t spend a lot of money. I dream movies with more of a narrative than Sandler's worst. I just don't know what it was, but it's like they ran out of ideas or ways to put Emmett and Austin into absurd situations. By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie. |, July 18, 2010 This is up there with Dr. Strangelove as hilarious col war comedy which delivers on the message that nuclear warfare is human folly. It does this with nothing more than a few metal buckets, a few cloths and beautifully directed physical performance. Looking for a way out of their mundane government jobs, Austin Millbarge (Dan Aykroyd) and Emmett Fitz-Hume (Chevy Chase) take the entrance exam for a CIA espionage program. There's something big going on in Russia. For Chevy Chase fans, this film displays one of his vintage performances---right up there with a couple of his "Vacation" films and "Fletch." Spies Like Us unites Aykroyd and Chase in one of my all time favourite films. This 10-digit number is your confirmation number. Coming Soon. The film is made with some similarity with the Hope/Crosby Road films of the 1940s. Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd were at the height of their professional careers with the 80's "masterpiece" Spies Like Us. We want to hear what you have to say but need to verify your email. So, honestly, more than anything else, it was that and seeing how those two would work together. Paperback $ 23.95. Chevy Chase does his usual goofy things, and Dan Aykroyd is his usual uptight-but-silly self. | Love the music, too. A witty & throughly enjoyable comedy, that has become a cult-classic over the years. Share on Facebook ... Daniel Foster — D aniel Foster is a contributing editor for National Review. VCD47246; CD). Landis loves his self-knowing, referential gags and Chase's dry style feels suitably catered to this, and Aykroyd complements the balance with his light touches. In this episode he reviews Spies Like Us. I bought the DVD of this movie for six dollars. The percentage of users who rated this 3.5 stars or higher. Your Ticket Confirmation # is located under the header in your email that reads "Your Ticket Reservation Details". External Reviews The film does have a story and Emmett and Austin have to 'save the world', as it were, but it's literally so minimal that it might as well just have been a series of skits without any effort put into an actual story. The cast alone makes this movie a triumph the 80's comedy. Spies Like Us has some problems, but it's very much a comedy of its time. Released 6 December 1985 on Varèse Sarabande (catalog no. We want to hear what you have to say but need to verify your account. The physical comedy in the first half of the movie is as funny as any Marx Brother film of its time. Famed director Alfred Zinneman (High Noon, From Here to Eternity) directs the mother of all modern Assassin movies. Online reviewers have written 346 reviews, giving Spies Like Us (1985) an average rating of 55%. Stick around for the Paul McCartney penned title song. |, July 14, 2010 Verified reviews are considered more trustworthy by fellow moviegoers. John Landis combines with funny men Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd to bring us a rather silly film about two misfit secret service men who are assigned a very dangerous mission. Chevy Chase and Dan Akyrod are perfect together! Spies Like Us? What a choice of three to bring out the laughs, but I never found it to be the laugh riot that I was hoping. They finally have to take action when the threat of a nuclear holocaust becomes real. In fact, unbeknown to them, they are decoys who have been thrown to the wolves. Published 01/28/21 All rights reserved. Spies Like Us is a great comedy homage to Hope & Crosby without the musical numbers. The cast alone makes this movie a triumph the 80's comedy. | Rating: 6/10 |, January 14, 2011 Spies Like Us is a great comedy homage to Hope & Crosby without the musical numbers. You'll love this movie. Sign up here. Please enter your email address and we will email you a new password. The jokes come from putting two top comedians in funny situations and letting them cut loose. Still to this day they, in their various movies and combinations, provided some of the best comedic moments the cinema has seen. "Spies Like Us" kicks off with some great promise, but stalls out in the third act. Two inept CIA recruits (Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd) are chosen to act as decoy spies while the real spies complete a top secret mission, only the two don't know they aren't real spies. User Ratings Directed by John Landis. Yea, the reviews at the time weren't that kind, but sometimes films end up aging better than one might have imagined. John Landis is a excellent Director among many great projects, I'm glad I decided to rewatch Spies Like Us it's been so long! It's definitely watchable mind, but in terms of it been funny, well it fails on all counts. But considering the people in this movie, it should have been world's better. [An] irritating comedy in which Aykroyd and Chase play officials who are sent on a secret mission as decoys whilst the real spies do their work. Just a stupid fun 102 mins. Dan Akroid and Chevy Chase at their prime. Despite the comedic prowess of its director and two leads, Spies Like Us appears to disavow all knowledge of how to make the viewer laugh. and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and Fandango. And no matter how many times I see it, it still is as funny as the last time I've seen. Coming Soon, Regal Spies Like Us is a classic fish out of water buddy comedy in the vein of Martin & Lewis, Knotts & Conway, Bob & Doug McKenzie, Bill & Ted, and Wayne & Garth. [09 Dec 1985] Chevy Chase never fails to entertain with his suave, intelligent(he only acts stupid) and sexy character he made famous in other roles. 24 Times The Government Overspent Your Money (In Film & TV), January 2, 2018 | Regal Spies Like Us Review By Matt Paprocki August 1, 2010 No Comments Take the spirit of the Bob Hope and Bing Crosby Road movies, add in some Cold War shenanigans, gay Russians, ninjas, Ronald Reagan, and two ’80s comedic stars to come out with Spies Like Us . What he forgets is character development, that all-important factor that must exist for comedy to work well. Unbeknowst to them, they aren't trained to be spies, they're trained to be decoys(sitting ducks)! The jokes fall flat, and the dated sexism, often played for laughs, adds no enjoyment. I must have seen it about fifty times since then and I am almost word-perfect on the script. I can see the US military using decoys to complete an important mission. But, if I'm being completely honest, time legitimately has not been kind to this movie. All Critics (25) This is sort of the perfect sick day movie. However, I've never owned the DVD since Warner have never released it in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The movie features a title song sung by Paul McCartney. I'm surprised this movie isn't higher rated. Spies Like Us is a classic fish out of water buddy comedy in the vein of Martin & Lewis, Knotts & Conway, Bob & Doug McKenzie, Bill Put this film alongside The Great Outdoors, Ghostbusters, Stripes, Armed and Dangerous, Dragnet, Trading Places, etc and you've got a great day of early to mid-80's comedy. Copyright © Fandango. C-. The timing is always on the mark. Chevy Chase and Dan Ackroyd put the "F" in funny in the movie "Spies Like Us". 6 Comments . And, to be fair, time has been kinder to this film when it comes to critics' and audience's reception. Spies Like Us is a 1985 American comedy film directed by John Landis and starring Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, Steve Forrest, and Donna Dixon.The film presents the comic adventures of two novice intelligence agents sent to the Soviet Union.Originally written by Aykroyd and Dave Thomas to star Aykroyd and John Belushi at Universal, the script went into turnaround and … Summary without spoilers: Spies Like Us is the story of two government rubes--Chevy Chase is Emmet Fitzhume, a low-level D.C.-based diplomat, with next to no dedication to his work; he just followed blindly in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. Two bumbling government employees think they are U.S. spies, only to discover that they are actually decoys for Nuclear War. Read Spies Like Us reviews from parents on Common Sense Media. Two government workers are sent out to be spies in different countries. Please click the link below to receive your verification email. He and Dan Aykroyd form a great comedic duo with great chemistry that will leave you wanting for more. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing Spies Like Us near you. What could go wrong? and the Terms and Policies, The story for Spies Like Us was from Aykroyd and Dave Thomas. The Middle East was a hoot. Lots of memorable lines and scenes. Read 2 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Anyway, the point is the fact that both were at the top of their game in the 80s and this movie really doesn't reflect the quality of the two comedians. nothing more than a nostalgia trip for people my age who remember seeing it in theatres and, because we were twelve, thinking it was hilarious. Both guys, like I mentioned, were at their peak in the 80s, particularly Chevy, who went on to have a near career-ending drop in the 90s. | Rating: 2/5, November 11, 2004 Landis' direction is indulgent, to say the least, with big landscapes, big crashes, big hardware, and big gags filling the screen. Where Chevy Chase is cheating on the test...Priceless. Forgot your password? When they find a Soviet mobile missile launcher and then receive instructions from their rebellious controllers to "accidently" send the thing on it's way to a target in the US, only the quick thinking of Ackroyd can save the day. | Top Critics (4) A missed opportunity here. Spies Like Us was released in 1985 and has generally received mixed reviews. And I'm not saying that there aren't parts of it that aren't funny, because that would be a lie, but I found it to be a totally inconsistent movie when it comes to laughs. Ackroyd's leadership enables them to survive to complete their mission while the lascivious Chase spends most of his time thinking like the typical male. The script is so patchy that most of the genuine laughs are squeezed into the first half; the rest is a rather tacky and confused extended joke about the nuclear arms race. Dan Ackroyd is GREAT as the straight man who keeps Chevy out of trouble. Immediately chosen to take part in a top-secret mission in the Middle East by the officious Gen. Sline (Steve Forrest), the new recruits are set upon by Soviet forces in Afghanistan. No, it's not "Lawrence of Arabia" but not every movie has to be "artistically respectable". Just look at the names of the two main characters, Emmett Fitz-Hume and Austin Milbarge, and you know what you're in for. I loved this movie growing up, and it is one that I can still laugh at today. Chevy Chase STEALS the show in "Spies Like Us"! Usually it speaks well for a movie if it is controversial and divisive. They work together (and against each other at times) so well and so naturally. The cast alone makes this movie a triumph the 80's comedy. it's has some of it's moments, and it may be funny, but it's just lost on it's own. Spies like us Best known, perhaps, for her prize-winning literary books, Behind the Scenes at the Museum, Life After Life and A God in Ruins, Atkinson has also been developing a strand of detective novels centred on ex-police inspector Jackson Brodie. Anyway, I saw they had Spies Like Us. 'Spies Like Us' is Hilarious! Co-written by Aykroyd, the comedy is well-done and has some clever satire about the military. Aykroyd and Chase have perfect chemistry and timing. Overall, cinema-goers prefer the movie, giving it an average score of 72%, compared to film critics, who gave it a lower average score of 43%. You're almost there! Genres: Film Score. By Daniel Foster. However, a quick perusal of user comments for Spies Like Us will show that there is no controversy over politics, morality, or historical accuracy. The book has received glowing reviews from publishing professionals, as well as first readers. I first saw Spies Like Us when I was a kid, when Chevy Chase was my favourite actor. | Rating: 1.5/5, February 6, 2018 Rounding off the entertaining performances was the beautiful Donna Dixon, larger than life Steve Forest, a sneaky Bruce Davison, slimly Jim Staahl and an attractive Vanessa Angel. Hanged upside-down when Emmett Hume(Chase) explained to the people that they're Americans. They won't be able to see your review if you only submit your rating. That's kinda disappointing (and as John Landis' sweet '80s run goes, it's a middling effort), but even when it fizzles, it's still the good0natured brand of stupid. Your AMC Ticket Confirmation# can be found in your order confirmation email. Two goof balls lucky enough to become spies after a test go on a whirlwind of adventures dealing with many foreigners, doctors, and soviet spies. | Rating: 1/4 Dated '80s comedy has strong language, few laughs. It's a shame that, unlike Hope & Crosby, they didn't do more than one movie like this. Cinemark Spies Like Us Critic Reviews + Ratings Favorite Movie Button Overview; Movie Times + Tickets; Synopsis; Movie Reviews; PG, 1 hr 49 min Comedy; Tell us where you are Looking for movie tickets? Coming Soon. And directing the feature was John Landis, who had earlier collaborated with Aykroyd on The Blues Brothers. If you like over-the-top government action, with hilarious scenes and horrible attempts to hit on beautiful women. Although the same cast today would find itself on the video shelf and not the movie theaters, for the mid 80's this was a GIANT of a Hollywood cast. The veteran character actors in the film play their parts totally serious, which works for them, but when they are surrounded by the idiotic foolishness of the two leads, you feel sorry for them, not the leading stars. All the critics that reviewed this as a “political commentary” are morons. A great comedy. Read critic reviews. Just leave us a message here and we will work on getting you verified.