Review of Top Secret! (1984) by Joseph S — 17 Jul 2008
The long last ZAZ spoof, from the director/writers trio who gave us "The Naked Gun", "Hot Shots", and "Airplane". The three absurdist comic savants, produced one other spoof after airplane but before "The Naked Gun" with "Top Secret!".
An America...(read more) n pop star, is invited to sing in East Germany, but the evil "west" germans???, are conspiring to use the concert to take over both sides of the country, and only Val Kilmer and his constant Elvis songs and imitations can save the day?
Well the Zaz guys were never big on plot, if youve seen the type of film they are spoofing you should be well aware of the conventions, which is maybe why this film is as little remembered as it's peers, it's attempting to spoof multiple "genres" at once.
Ive never really seen any of the old Elvis musicals, so alot of the humor in the musical moments falls flat, and confuses, when your waiting for more spy and espionage gags.
Not quite as good as their other more well known films, but good viewing for those interested in the mile a minute, absurdist visual gags and slapstick and vernacular jokes that only these guys could do, after Woody Allen and Mel Brooks the comic torch for the 80's passed through the hands of the trio Zaz, where it continued on past Kevin Smith and the Wayans to Judd Apatow and co, and beyond.
Oh and it was funny too.
This review of Top Secret! (1984) was written by Joseph S on 17 Jul 2008.
Top Secret! has generally received positive reviews.
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