Review of Top Secret! (1984) by Campbell P — 07 Jun 2014

Comedy is subjective, I suppose, so my first viewing of Top Secret! didn't herald many belly laughs or too much positivity from me. After having seen it again, I was surprised to find that I actually enjoyed it a bit more.

I wasn't someone who saw it as a child or when it was released, so I didn't understand the love that it's gotten. But upon a second viewing, I appreciated it a lot more, so I had to change my review of it, of course.

Val Kilmer is Val Kilmer, of course, but he's great as an Elvis Presley/Brian Wilson combination. The jokes, while not still as effective, do generate some laughs, and I really enjoy the characters, as well as the music.

It's all light-hearted, not very dirty, and you can stick it on anytime without worry of upsetting anybody. Some people would call that invalid and ineffective, but I would call it comfort food. It has its fans and its way more enjoyable than most spoof movies that have come along in the last twenty years or so.