IMDb RATING
5.8/10
8.1K
YOUR RATING
Michael has to take summer class in French, a class trip to France, to graduate high school. He is, however, mistaken for an agent and people try to kill him. There are 007 style cars, cutie... Read allMichael has to take summer class in French, a class trip to France, to graduate high school. He is, however, mistaken for an agent and people try to kill him. There are 007 style cars, cuties, crooks etc.Michael has to take summer class in French, a class trip to France, to graduate high school. He is, however, mistaken for an agent and people try to kill him. There are 007 style cars, cuties, crooks etc.
- Awards
- 3 nominations total
Cynthia Preston
- Melissa Tyler
- (as Cyndy Preston)
Gerry Mendicino
- Herb
- (as Gerry Mendecino)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
I remember seeing this with a bunch of my friends the night it came out. Back in seventh grade, I thought this was the coolest, funniest movie I'd ever seen. I wanted to BE Richard Grieco in that movie. I loved how he started out as a gawky American guy lost in Europe, and slowly transformed into an ersatz James Bond. It's not a big, great movie. Just a fun, humorous action flick. Gotta love Gabrielle Anwar in this. Roger Rees was also a very cool villain.
Overall, for a fun time that's not taxing on the brain, definitely rent this. I loved it back then, and I still do now.
Overall, for a fun time that's not taxing on the brain, definitely rent this. I loved it back then, and I still do now.
If you're looking for any sort of award winning cinematic experience with deeply textured meaning this flick is not for you. However if you just want to relax with something that demands almost no thought but will give you more fun than it should this will be perfect.
A teen comedy mixed with spy spoof this was supposed to be the launch pad for current teen dream Richard Grieco. It didn't lead to a big career for him but he is appealing in the lead. His extremely over-waxed eyebrows aside he is attractive and humorous as a college student mistaken for a secret agent on a summer class field trip in Europe.
The script is silly and the situations ludicrous but there are two things that make this worth catching, the gadgets and the cast. Once the plot kicks in Grieco's character is outfitted with the sort of weapons, cars, etc that wouldn't be out of place in a Bond picture all utilized in a fun way.
The real strength of the film though is a cast that is far above what would be usual in this type of flick. Aside from Grieco's game performance there's Robin Bartlett's ever more flustered French Teacher who by the end is kicking butt and taking prisoners. Plus the totally unhinged evil duo of Roger Rees and Oscar winner Linda Hunt chewing the scenery and having a hell of a good time thereby providing the audience with one too. The rest of the cast also plays into the proper mood of lampooning the spy genre making this a breezy delight.
With Quebec standing in for Europe there are some beautiful locations and for any car lover some very cool vehicles. The definition of escapist fare.
A teen comedy mixed with spy spoof this was supposed to be the launch pad for current teen dream Richard Grieco. It didn't lead to a big career for him but he is appealing in the lead. His extremely over-waxed eyebrows aside he is attractive and humorous as a college student mistaken for a secret agent on a summer class field trip in Europe.
The script is silly and the situations ludicrous but there are two things that make this worth catching, the gadgets and the cast. Once the plot kicks in Grieco's character is outfitted with the sort of weapons, cars, etc that wouldn't be out of place in a Bond picture all utilized in a fun way.
The real strength of the film though is a cast that is far above what would be usual in this type of flick. Aside from Grieco's game performance there's Robin Bartlett's ever more flustered French Teacher who by the end is kicking butt and taking prisoners. Plus the totally unhinged evil duo of Roger Rees and Oscar winner Linda Hunt chewing the scenery and having a hell of a good time thereby providing the audience with one too. The rest of the cast also plays into the proper mood of lampooning the spy genre making this a breezy delight.
With Quebec standing in for Europe there are some beautiful locations and for any car lover some very cool vehicles. The definition of escapist fare.
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.
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.
For a long time, I refused to watch this flic because I thought it was just a vehicle for "teen idol" Grieco, and I usually don't enjoy stories contrived to promote TV to films career moves. Then I saw "The Man Who Knew too Little" with Bill Murray, laughed out loud, and decided to try this similar, mistaken-for-a-spy spoof. I'm glad. The plot is artless, totally ridiculous & full of contradictions. Yet, the terrific cast carries the implausible story to entertaining heights with scenery-chewing, tongue-in-cheek glee. A really hot sex scene turns into a gorefest, the villains are outrageous, and the heroics are spectacular. WB threw sfx money at this one.
I especially enjoyed Robin Bartlett as the "French Teacher".
I especially enjoyed Robin Bartlett as the "French Teacher".
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 :)
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 :)
Did you know
- TriviaThe thousands of gold coins made by Steranko's metallurgists were actually chocolate coins covered in gold foil wrapping.
- GoofsIn the hotel room while Corben is trying to figure out the condoms, a missile is fired at his bed. Even before the missile hits the bed the room looks destroyed.
- Quotes
Michael Corben: I'll nail your ass to the wall.
Augustus Steranko: That sounds very painful.
- SoundtracksIf Looks Could Kill (No Turning Back)
Written by Antonina Armato and Danny Sembello
Performed by Glenn Medeiros
Produced by Denny Diante
- How long is If Looks Could Kill?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $7,788,597
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $2,246,819
- Mar 17, 1991
- Gross worldwide
- $7,788,597
- Runtime1 hour 28 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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