Review of Our Man Flint (1966) by Tonypolito — 20 Jul 2011

1966 saw both Dean Martin (as Matt Helm in "The Silencers") and James Coburn here as Derek Flint on screen in shameless copycatters of the James Bond franchise, which by that point was an undeniably proven product through its four outings -- "Dr.

No" (1962), "From Russia With Love" (1963), "Goldfinger" (1964) and "Thunderball" (1965). Ok, "Our Man Flint" doesn't have anywhere near the same bite as any of those Bond classics, mostly because it's missing any well-done action scenes as well as any whiz-bang gizmo-gimmickry.

Still, it's interesting to watch, in large part due to Coburn's subtle and playful poking at the Bond franchise. When Coburn's handed a Walther PPK pistol - Bond's standard issue - he quips its outdated.

And at film's fin, Coburn's too busy to take The President's phone call, not because he's snuggling up with the usual babe-once-nemesis now won over, but because he's snuggling up with HER AND four other women, his regular squeezes, all at the same time.

Menage a CINQ -- top THAT James Bond! Maybe Bond needs a suitcase full of gadgets, but uber-spy-guy Flint only needs one: a cigarette lighter (that looks suspiciously like a classic Dunhill Rollagas) that does 86 different things - "87 if you count that it can light a cigarette" - which he uses to talk to HQ merely by flipping up the lid.

And to think Bond needs to tote around all that complicated stuff just to phone home. "Flint" sends up Bond as omniscient Renaissance man by going over-the-top, by making Coburn even more omniscient than Bond; Flint's flying to Moscow for the ballet - not to see it, but to train the dancers.

Viewed not as action spy flick but rather as sly satire, "Flint" is actually more satisfying viewing than the more slapstick send-up of Bond in "Casino Royale" (1967). RECOMMENDATION: One-spin recommended, when the mood for such strikes.