Review of Spies Like Us (1985) by Shane V — 24 Dec 2009

Emmett Fitz-Hume is a bumbling, irresponsible, care-free Press Representative. Austin Millbarge is a hard-working intelligence officer working in the basement while others are rewarded for his success. When the two are caught cheating on a Foreign Policy skills test, they are selected to be the unknowing decoys for another pair of US agents sent to take control of a newly-mobilized Russian nuke. Dropped into Pakistan, the pair bumble their way into Russia and discover what is really going on, while their commanders find themselves in a mess all their own.

Two of the 80's' greatest comedians come together to create probably one of the most boring movies I have ever seen. There is no tension, no suspense, slim to no action and the story is practically transparent. Of course, the movie is all about Aykroyd and Chase simply being themselves and bouncing off of one another. While most of Chase & Aykroyd's screen time (apart and together) is genuinely funny, the wooden performances from everyone OTHER than the stars makes this one a bit of a snooze-fest. The social statement (the Cold War is ridiculous and the government is a bunch of fools) was a bit too subversive to help the movie in any way (once again defeated by the poor performances). The story itself, if you can manage to follow, makes almost no sense whatsoever. Not Aykroyd's best work by any means. Overall, it's a boring pile of spy-esque garbage with an incoherent story, poor performances, meaningless cameos, and a failed attempt at a social statement. All these negatives bring to light the fine comedy between Chase & Aykroyd, and absolutely nothing else. So I give "Spies Like Us" 4 nukes we launched at ourselves out of 10. It's fine & watchable (again and again) for fans of the duo, but otherwise a complete waste.