Espião por Engano

If you're looking for a comedy that teases at every spy movie you've ever seen, then this is it. I saw the movie years ago as a teenager and loved it. While its not the most serious movie in the world, its excellent for a good time and a good laugh. That was what the movie was designed for and I believe it pulls it off well. I watched it with my loved one recently (his first time seeing it) and we laughed all the way through it. Take it with a grain of salt (after all it IS a comedy) and go in expecting nothing in particular. If you do, you'll see all of the serious spy movie scenes done with a twist of humor that will make you laugh and shout "Of course!" when something explodes for no real reason. I love the "teen spy guy" way that this movie was conducted. And I feel it wasn't rated as well as it should have been. This is a fun movie if you're in the mood for something silly. The car chase at the beginning is really neat. Love the cars. And I have to say that the scene with the female assassin at the hotel was one of the funniest things I have ever seen. Its just too ridiculously classic. You will not regret it.

A stupid but pretty entertaining James Bond-type action flick, this features comedy a lot more than it does action. There were enough funny lines in the comedy to make it a keeper in my collection for awhile. Like the Bond movies, there were also a good number of clever gadgets.

The story is preposterous, so you can't take any of it seriously.There is too much macho baloney from the young hero in here, played by Richard Grieco, not a household name but a decent actor. Speaking of acting, Robin Bartlett, who plays the French teacher, overacts terrible and is just plain annoying. It's no wonder we've never heard her name before.

Action scenes range from pretty good to incredibly stupid.

I get tired of pointing these things out to people, but this is a comedy. People complaining about that fact that's it's unrealistic seem to be missing something. At no point did the movie makers expect you to find this realistic.

It's an escapist teen fantasy. Ordinary guy gets to drive expensive car, meet cute women, and have an adventure.

Of COURSE it's ludricous. But it's cute and funny in a lot of spots. I laughed out loud many times BECAUSE it's silly. So if you prefer sophisticated humor, maybe this is not for you.

It's less silly than say Top Secret. It's more of a straight action/adventure - it's just that the premise is totally unrealistic and so is the protagonist - he goes from being clueless to saving the day. Don't expect James Bond here people - it's not supposed to be.

I give it 7 out of 10. Why? Because it made me laugh out loud in multiple spots. Which is the point to comedies.

(Why some people watch comedies when they lack of a sense of humor is beyond me - some of the comments made here indicate that they do, though :)

"If Looks Could Kill" deserved to do better at the boxoffice. This is another instance of a studio throwing away a perfectly good film by giving it ZERO promotion. This spy spoof, while not a masterpiece, is fast-paced, light and consistently amusing. Perfect non-think entertainment. Richard Grieco is hip and quite likable in his role as Michael Corben, who is prevented from graduating from high school due to a flunking grade in french class. He wrangles his way onto a trip to France with another class and, through hilariously convoluted circumstances, gets mixed up in an espionage plot and mistaken for a master spy. He soon finds himself somewhat enjoying the masquerade but as the plot thickens, has to rely on his wits and ingenuity to keep himself alive and catch the bad guys.

The gags and one-liners spoofing James Bond and other spies come fast and furious, thanks to a clever script by Fred Dekker and Darren Star and fleet-footed direction by William Dear.

Had this movie been released in the Summer instead of the dead of Winter, it probably would have done better. Do yourself a favor and catch it on video now. You'll probably be pleasantly surprised.

Almost animated in its style is this 'James Bond' type flick from writers Fred Dekker and Darren Star about mistaken identity. "If Looks Could Kill" is comically entertaining for the most part, if very silly and extremely predictable.

William Dear has toned the violence right down and used cartoon characters acting out a cartoon script. Richard Grieco and the support cast (including Roger Rees, Robin Bartlett and Gabrielle Anwar) have fun and so do we, as long as we don't expect any serious cinema! Linda Hunt steals the show as the wicked lady with a whip for a necklace. "If Looks Could Kill" is good entertainment for youthful audiences.

Tuesday, September 3, 1991 - Knox District Centre