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Very, very funny!

Yet another mediocre movie in a lengthy string of losers for all three of the principals involved here: director John Landis and stars Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase. Chase and Aykroyd play a pair of bumbling would-be CIA agents who are spotted cheating on the entrance exam. So the CIA decides to use them as bait in a mission to flummox the Russians. Lots of pointless slapstick and mugging, but Landis hasn't made a genuinely funny film since Trading Places. This film isn't very clever or funny, but it's not a complete waste of time.

Good Movie!

Spies Like Us is a very funny although silly movie. Chevy Chase is in rare form, probably my favorite from him with the exceptions of the original Vacation and Caddyshack. I picked this one up... and didn't really expect a whole lot of extras from it. Good thing because there are no extras on this DVD! While it may not be of the highest quality from the DVD standpoint, it is a very good movie and I'm happy with my purchase.

definitely a good comedy of its time

just saw this movie for the first time on TV.Well, i gotta say it is a nice comedy to entertain us almost 2 hours.It is also a sci-fi movie, and because of that i bet this is a 80's movie and look at that, it is a 80's movie.Because of Star Wars probably, but this years were the rise of a new kind of cinema - Sci-Fi ones -but, of course, this is not a good example: well it's just a comedy. Enjoy it! Actors did a nice job, well directed, and a piece of cake of its genre and of its time. 7/10---because i see it lately i didn't enjoy that much, but it is a nice rating, after all, better than the general.(5.7) P.S.:Which is a low rating, but appears that here in IMDb users doesn't like comedies...

Spies Are Likable!

This is certainly an under-rated comedy that is,quite frankly,a fun way to spend 100 minutes.Though Chevy Chase definitely comes across as a bit smug,he and Dan Aykroyd make a fine team as a pair of goof-ball agents who are sent by American intelligence as decoys on a mission that takes them first to Pakistan and then onto the (now ex) U.S.S.R.Accompanying them is the absolutely gorgeous Donna Dixon (Aykroyd's longtime spouse).While Chevy and Dan get themselves into all kinds of trouble,the gags keep getting sillier by the minute - though most of them are pretty much fun-silly.Director John Landis - a fairly hot-shot young turk then - delivers on most occasions and manages to keep the pace lively.If any of you have,like me,grown up during the 80's (I was 18 when this was released),you will definitely find something to like in this.

Hilarious

I'm surprised this movie isn't higher rated. No, it's not "Lawrence of Arabia" but not every movie has to be "artistically respectable". Just look at the names of the two main characters, Emmett Fitz-Hume and Austin Milbarge, and you know what you're in for.Aykroyd and Chase are hilarious and this movie is a laugh a minute. Yes, there are dumb jokes, slapstick humor, ridiculous scenarios and odd cameos (doctor? doctor?)...But that's what's great about it, you just turn your brain off and take it in.I've seen this movie a hundred times and could watch it a hundred more, I guess it's one of those "love it or hate it" things. But "we mock what we don't understand".

Comedians like Us

Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd were at the height of their professional careers with the 80's "masterpiece" Spies Like Us. The cast alone makes this movie a triumph the 80's comedy. Although the same cast today would find itself on the video shelf and not the movie theaters, for the mid 80's this was a GIANT of a Hollywood cast. Second to only Doctor Strangelove, what other comedy is funnier when dealing with American / Russian relations during the cold war? Chevy and Aykroyd have terrific chemistry together that has been molded to perfection from their success on Saturday Night Live. The physical comedy in the first half of the movie is as funny as any Marx Brother film of its time. The comical situations that occur in the second half are as funny as any Blake Edwards production. Together, the movie is as funny as it gets for the 1980's.

Chase and Aykroyd Make It Work

Emmett Fitz-Hume and Austin Millbarge (Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd) are two bumbling government workers. Both, however plan to take the CIA recruitment test. After screwing up the worst they could they are recruited as spies. However they don't know that they're decoy's and that their only purpose is to draw out Svoiet Union defenses so that the real spies can sneak in.After being trained at the hellish camp of Col. Rhumbus (Bernie Casey) they are dropped into Pakistan and end up in Afghanistan. Along the way they are confronted by the Afghani militia fighting the Soviets, Soviet spies attempting to foil the mission, and Bob Hope playing golf. After learning that they're decoys and that the real spies are ordered to launch of missle that may set off World War III, Emmett, Austin, and actual spy Karen Boyer (Donna Dixon) they must find a way to destroy the missile and make peace with the Soviets who think a war is breaking out.Chase and Aykroyd make the film work. Aykroyd plays the more serious of the two characters and figures most of the stuff out. Chase's character, Emmett is made out to be a complete fool and is successful at portraying it. Some scenes are absolutely hilarious including: the Soviet spies capturing Emmett and arguing whether or not to cut off his fingers, the introducing of all the doctors, and the whole alien sequence make up the best of the funny scenes.Spies Like Us is a simple fish out of water story and it works. The actors are able to hold the story together and the comeDy is top quality. John Landis has done it again with this film of bringing out his comedy genius. Spies Like Us. Starring: Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, Donna Dixon, Bernie Casey, Steve Forrest, and Charles McKeown. 3 1/2 out of 5 Stars.

For fans only

If you're a fan of Chevy Chase or Dan Aykroyd, or both, it's easy to recommend Spies Like Us. Fans of these performers will get a kick out of seeing them do their things and, at times, their interplay is simply hilarious. But the film's uneven tone, ranging from semi-serious to complete slapstick, is damaging and makes for a rather silly conclusion.It's basically a series of set pieces that tie the plot together and the funny ones all come in the film's first half; Chase trying to cheat on an exam, the pair disguised as doctors and prepping for surgery are two hilarious scenes. But in the end the film goes for an outrageous and silly resolution that undermines all that preceded it (sort of like 1981's Stripes).Fans of these actors will find plenty to enjoy though, but I'm not so sure about the others.

Spies Like Us

Very funny movie, especially the written test scene where Chevy Chase cheats on his exam.

Probably one of Chevy Chase's best movies, may be beaten only by Caddyshack or Vacation. A movie that I have seen a lot of times, and probably will see a lot more times.

We leave national security in your hands.

This saw the first pairing of comedians Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd (who later appear in 'Caddyshack II and 'Nothing but Trouble') in a John Landis successfully directed espionage/ Cold War comedy. What a choice of three to bring out the laughs, but I never found it to be the laugh riot that I was hoping. In the end it's a randomly transfixing buddy comedy in the vein of a Bob Hope/ Bing Crosby film (which the former has a sudden cameo in) that has two clueless undercover operatives used as foils to distract KGB from the actual operatives with an assignment. Landis loves his self-knowing, referential gags and Chase's dry style feels suitably catered to this, and Aykroyd complements the balance with his light touches. The timing is always on the mark. Plus let's not forget about the cameos of pals in for the fun including Frank Oz, Joel Coen, Sam Raimi, B.B King, Terry Gilliam, Martin Brest, Larry Cohen and Ray Harryhausen. Rounding off the entertaining performances was the beautiful Donna Dixon, larger than life Steve Forest, a sneaky Bruce Davison, slimly Jim Staahl and an attractive Vanessa Angel.The humour ranges from slapstick shtick to comically witty exchanges (Chase's often quick replies) and deadpan acts, as the equipped story is a comedy of errors led by two hapless individuals which would end up saving the day in an unlikely manner. It's a fairly amusing and offbeat concept, as it holds surprises, its fast momentum never lets it sit too long on the one gag. There such a variety to the comic silliness and it goes out on a bang. The crystal clear European locations are exquisitely used in shots, and adds considerably well to the large-scale adventure directed by verve from Landis.Landis would team up again with Chevy Chase a year later to bring us the even better '¡Three Amigos!' that would also star Steve Martin and Martin Short.On a need to know basis… good dashing, systematic fun.

That old guy but not the pupet show

This film should have totally won an Academy Oscar Awards, especially for that old fella whose trying to get Dayne Akroy and Chevvy Chase. Git 'em! Remember when he's all like I'm gonna go down into that underground torpedo thing and the other guy's like yeah, if you wanna see the other bad guy or whatever you hafta "Won't you gentlemen have a Pepsi? " And he and that other old dude are in that drive-thru movies from the olden days and he looks at that other guy and "Won't you gentlemen step inside and have a Pepsi?" And the way he says "Pepsi?" where his voice kinda gets higher at the end? I kinda liked that part. Then he sees some Rusian watch. And they go to a lame pupet show.

A HOPE/CROSBY STYLE "ROAD" PICTURE

Spies like us is a tip of the hat to the great Bob Hope Bing Crosby "road pictures" of the 1940's.

Chase and Dan Ackroyd play two low-level CIA agents who are sent on a rather bogus mission in Afghanistan to basically be expendable decoys.

The boys are dropped inside a giant crate from a plane and when opened, they are lounging about eating Doritos! So well do they play their Hope Crosby roles that there is a tribute of sorts to the old patty-cake game when they encounter a couple of Russian agents.

later, in the tent of a shiek they have to pretend to be doctors and perfrom surgery. Bobe Hope himself makes a cameo appearance.

Of course, the boys eventually are the heroes of the movie and get the girls. Funny movie

What made all these people do cameos???

B.B. King, Ray Harryhausen, Frank Oz, Michael Apted, Constantin Costa Gavras, Joel Coen, Sam Raimi, Terry Gilliam -- what were they thinking??? I mean...it's not a HORRIBLE film, and does have some fairly funny moments, but what on earth possessed these otherwise respectable members of the film (or, in the case of Mr. King, blues) community to take one- or two-line roles in an opus which is lackluster at best?Seriously...if anyone has a clue about this -- is there some sort of inside joke I haven't heard or something -- I'd love to know it!Dan Akroyd is not so bad, but I admit to a low tolerance for Chevy Chase when he's as boorish and maladroit as he is here. It was as if I wanted to apologize to the people mentioned above, whom I admire, for even watching this.Eh.

Good, should have been great...

With John Landis directing a comedy starring Chevy Chase and Dan Ackroyd in the mid 80's, you should expect it to be a great film, but Spies Like Us isn't a sadly a great film but its still very enjoyable and has a few good laughs. The stars are on pretty good form, and their seems to have been quite a big budget because for the time the special effects are very good. Some scenes are hilarious, especially the test scene near the beginning with Chevy Chase at his best. Also Donna Dixon and Vanessa Angel add a lot of glamour too. Although you can't help feeling with films like Animal House, Vacation, Fletch, Trading Places and Ghostbusters in the actors and directors CV it would have been a funnier and better film, but still I always watch it when its on? *** 6/10 ***

Dr. strangelove meets hope and crosby

Spies like us is truly one of the great comedies ever filmed a wonderous pleasure for film goers. The hijinks of chase and ackroyd is truly hilarious and bittersweet. We know they are pawns of the military industrial complex and the overt pressure of the military establishment and we idenify with both their vulnerability and the thankless task of their role as part of the economy subsidization of the u.s. military after ww2 for we also feel the thankless task of our role in the post ww2 build up and cold war hysteria. When we meet up with the Russians we also feel their vulnerabilty and thanklessness for their part in the total reduxtion of socialism to subsidize the military.Spies like us truly ranks as one of the great black comedies of all time. It kind of reminded me of what Dr. strangelove would feel like if it we're a bob hope and bing crosby road movie in cinerama. One laments though that there isnt a big dance and song number, it attains a certain heft but doesnt shine as bright as it could this could have been one of the truly stinging satires of the 1980's trickle down economics of Ayn Rand theory you feel like they should be singing on the way through the adventures. One is reminded of the great Sean Connery singing scenes in Darby o'gill and the little people and on the fiddle. There are so many opprotunies missed but in the end the payoff is high and its one heck of a ride on the way to the ultimate subversion of the military.

Typical USA comedy: a good laugh but nothing more.

This movie is made in the vein of Clouseau of the Pink Panther, two people that don't know anything about what they are doing who accidentally find out more than they should (though sometimes it seems they are more clever than you would think at the start). However, in this movie, all the characters are stereotypes, and except for a little irony the `American way' is promoted heavily. This is clearly a movie that the Russians would complain about. The movie is dated, but it is still enjoyable to watch.

Did anyone notice?

When Ackroyd and Chase are about to leave the woman agent and go back to the US. She does this massive over the top patriotic American speech to convince them to go and capture the rocket and make sure her partner didn't die in vain. She goes on about what President Kennedy said about "what you can do for your country" etc.... and how they need to preserve the American way of life... Thing is the music in the background is "God Save the Queen", the British national anthem...Well it made me laugh!

so corny it is great

Really this is classic Chevy Chase/Dan Akroyd. It's so stupid it's funny. Lots of predictable but great lines.

The best of Chevy and Dan's pairing up.

Directed by: John Landis. Stars: Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, Donna Dixon, Steve Forrest, William Prince, Tom Hatten, Bernie Casey, Vanessa Angel, Frank Oz and Bob Hope.Let me just start out by saying that I enjoyed this movie to the end. It was not the best comedy ever, but it had some quite funny moments. Chevy and Dan are a good pair in movies, however their choice in films is lacking. After this they do Caddyshack II and Nothing But Trouble, so compared to those two, this is pure genius. I thought John Landis actually did a good job directing this, however Aykroyd did only a sub-par job writing it. As for the back up cast, I thought everyone was great. They played it where everybody other than our two main guys plays the straight man. My favorite scene is one where Chevy Chase tries to cheat on a test by hiding things in his mouth and in his shirt, while test watcher Frank Oz just stares in disbelief. If you want a dumb pick me up flick, watch this.My rating: ** 1/2 out of ****. 96 mins. rated PG for Language, Crude and Sexual Humor and Violence.

The best comedy ever!

You can't beat a good comedy, and this one takes the cake! Chase and Akroyd are hilarious. Some of the best lines in movies come from this one. I've seen "Spies" a million times and it keeps gettin' funnier!