The Trouble with Spies
The Trouble with Spies

Movie spotlight

The Trouble with Spies

1987
Movie
91 min
English

George Trent, a British spy, has gone incommunicado in Ibiza. Appleton Porter (Donald Sutherland) is sent to find out what happened to Trent. Porter settles into a small hotel with several busybody guests. He probes them for information about Trent, their former neighbor. Meanwhile, the spy survives several attempts on his life as he attempts to solve the mystery.

Insights

IMDb4.5/10
Director: Jon HessGenres: Comedy, Action

Plot Summary

In Cold War Europe, a bumbling American spy named Matt (Don Adams) is tasked with a seemingly simple mission: to retrieve sensitive documents. However, his mission quickly spirals into chaos as he finds himself pursued by the KGB, entangled with a beautiful but dangerous Soviet agent named Anya (Sylvia Kristel), and dealing with a host of international complications. With his career and potentially world peace on the line, Matt must rely on his wits, and perhaps a bit of luck, to survive.

Critical Reception

The Trouble with Spies was largely met with indifference by critics and audiences alike. It's often remembered more for its star, Don Adams, and its '80s spy-comedy aesthetic than for any significant cinematic merit. The film struggled to find its footing, often criticized for a weak script and uneven pacing.

What Reviewers Say

  • The film suffers from a predictable plot and a lack of genuine comedic moments.

  • Don Adams's performance, while recognizable from his Get Smart days, can't salvage the weak material.

  • The production values and action sequences feel dated and uninspired.

Google audience: Audience reviews are scarce, but those available suggest a general disappointment with the film's humor and storyline, often finding it to be a forgettable entry in the spy-comedy genre.

Fun Fact

Don Adams, who starred as the lead, is best known for his iconic role as Maxwell Smart in the television series 'Get Smart', and 'The Trouble with Spies' was an attempt to recapture that spy-comedy magic on the big screen.

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