IF LOOKS COULD KILL

US, 1991, 88 minutes, Colour.
Richard Grieco, Linda Hunt, Roger Rees, Gabrielle Anwar, Geraldine James, Roger Daltrey.
Directed by William Dear.

If Looks Could Kill is an entertaining spy spoof. In the late 80s there was an entertaining spy spoof with Anthony Edwards, Gotcha. This is something of the same except that the hero is a high school student, who goes to Europe for a study tour and is mistaken for a CIA agent. Richard Grieco, of 21 Jump Street and Bookah, both popular television series, is credible enough as the rather brash high school student who is able to become an agent. The film is attractively presented, with Parisian and other European locations.

There are some entertaining stunt work and special effects - in the tradition of 007. In fact, it seems a throwback to the entertaining adventures of James Bond - even with Linda Hunt as a Lottie Lenya type villainess. British stage actor Roger Rees (Star 80) enjoys himself as the head of the European country wanting to take it over for a thousand year Reich. The supporting cast also includes a number of character actors including Shakespearean actress Geraldine James. Direction is by William Dear, director of Amazing Stories as well as Harry and the Hendersons. Much more entertaining than one might expect.

1. Entertaining action thriller, spoof? Espionage?

2. The traditions of the James Bond movies and audience expectations? The playing of military and espionage games - and reality?

3. Detroit settings, US and Europe? Musical score and songs?

4. The mixture of the espionage and student story, playing together well for comic entertainment?

5. Michael, the graduation, failing in French, relationship with his parents, their reacting, the clash with Melissa? His other friends? Going on the to the ticket, first class?
fears?

6. The British agents, the 007 background, the car and the and the various agents being tested? Giving Michael the car, his -mission? His getting away from them, the bus, the pursuit by Mariska? The gambling, the interactions with Steranko? The various agents? Mariska trying to explain the truth?

7. The seductive spy and the explosion? the spies making mistakes? Yet his being imprisoned with Mariska? The cell, interrogations? Being brought out? The meal? The plan of escape? The various hijinks and action with the confrontation with Steranko? The gold, the teachers and the class in the cage? His quick thinking, quick shooting - heroics and success?

8. The popular teen hero? In the traditional mould?

9. Steranko as villain, the initial deaths, the death of the agent, Blade? Ilsa Grunt as his henchwoman? His madness, the European common market, murdering the representatives? His staff, the meetings, gambling, power, the casino sequences, the gold? Ilsa, the guests, the poison and Michael shrewdly manipulating the glasses? His attempted escape, getting rid of Ilsa, the helicopter crashing and his being crushed by his gold? The mad leader and the popularity of this kind of villain wanting world control?

10. Ilsa, the villainess from the Bond stories? Whip cracking, killing people, assistant to Steranko? To America, the phone calls, at the airport, the murders on the plane, her world as a stewardess? The car and the pursuits? The agent losing his arm, his continued pursuit,? The confrontations and her death?

11. The agents, their taking Michael for the real spy? the workers, changing of the gold? Steranko and his girlfriend and her sexual espionage?

12. The European politicians, the spies, the British agents, the American CIA - and ‘Mother’? The code names, the French teacher etc.? The final heroics? Their allowing that the modern spies were younger, more contemporary and modern?

13. Blade, the agent, his death? Mariska, the driving, wanting revenge for her father, Steranko, in league with Michael? The explanations, the imprisonment, the escape?

14. Mrs Grober, her antagonism towards Michael? being mistaken for a spy? Terrorised? The bus drivers and their changing? The friends and the youngest on the bus – and the teenage comedy antics? Threats to Mrs Grober? Her final heroics and Michael graduating?

15. The climax, spectacular action and stunts - and the use of the British implements? The film as an entertaining blend of the comic and the serious? Spoof?