Top Secret DVD (1984)

Top Secret

1984

Overall rating: 3.5 out of 5

from 4932 members

The second of Zucker-Abraham-Zucker's theatrical-feature spoofs (Airplane was the first, discounting the patchwork Kentucky Fried Movie), Top Secret! lampoons practically every film genre. Specifically, however, this is a hybrid of an Elvis movie and a World War II underground resistance thriller. In his film debut, Val Kilmer plays Nick Rivers, a Presley-like American rock idol sent behind the Iron Curtain on a goodwill tour. Before long, he is involved in a complex espionage scheme thanks to beautiful Lucy Gutteridge, the daughter of a scientist (Michael Gough) held captive by the Communists. Also essential to the action is flamboyant resistance leader Christopher Villiers, who behaves like Victor Mature in Betrayed (1954) and talks like James Mason. Adhering to Z-A-Z's cheerful disregard for people, places and events, the East Germans are depicted as Nazis, while the Underground is comprised of Frenchmen. The plot is mainly an excuse for the Z-A-Z team's fondness for joke-a-minute lampoonery, skewering cinematic targets ranging from The Blue Lagoon (1980) to The Wizard of Oz (1939). As in Z-A-Z's other efforts, Top Secret! scores its biggest yocks when invoking cliches that we never realized were cliches-and falls on its face whenever attempting a too-obvious gag (the biggest clinker: that pigeon statue in the park). Everyone has his or her favorite bits in this film: our faves include the resistance fighter named Deja Vu (Haven't we met somewhere before?), Kilmer's horrible nightmare while being tortured (he arrives too late to take final exams), the army-booted cow, the sensitive Pinto, and the East German National Anthem, sung to the tune of the Shorewood (Wisconsin) High School marching song. But let's say no more: comedy of this nature is designed to be seen, not written or read about.~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Top Secret details

Format:	15 DVD
Starring:	Lucy Gutteridge, Michael Gough, Val Kilmer, Peter Cushing, Jeremy Kemp, Christopher Villiers, Omar Sharif, Christopher Lee
Directors:	Jerry Zucker, David Zucker, Jim Abrahams
Genres:	Action/Adventure, Comedy - General
Studio:	PARAMOUNT HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Collections:	100 Eighties Greats

DVD 1 disc

Name	Discs
Top Secret	15 Feature

DVD Information

Run time:	1 hour 26 minutes
Rental release:	04 Nov 2002
Main languages:	English

Write your own review

Most helpful review Top Secret

Cult Classic

By Mick from Liverpool UK , 20 Oct 2005

[Highly rated reviewer]

very funy under rated movie well worth a watch
- Was this review helpful to you?
- (9) Yes |
- No (3)
Report this review

All reviews

(48)

Sort by:

If you've never seen it, rent it! If you have seen it, rent it again!

By Sprp (4 reviews) , 20 Mar 2013

A favourite from years ago and still managers to deliver a tonne of silly laughs. Wonderful, glaringly obvious one liners. Brilliantly ridiculous! Can watch it again and again.
- Was this review helpful to you?
- (0) Yes |
- No (0)
Report this review
Under-rated and still very funny

By Bassman71 (617 reviews) from Didsbury, England , 07 Nov 2012

Rock n Roll Star, performs in East Germany, meets pretty girl, joins French Resistance, mayhem.

Under-rated and still very funny Elvis/WWII spoof which still has to rate amongst Val Kilmer’s best films.

Lots of memorable scenes and one-liners with the cow in wellies and the quite brilliant Swedish Bookshop owner (played by Peter Cushing) which has to be seen to be believed.
- Was this review helpful to you?
- (0) Yes |
- No (0)
Report this review
No good

By a customer , 12 Sep 2012

having read some good reviews though this would be a good watch very disappointed no real plot no real script not a very good film just glad i have not bought the film airplane was good and funny this although had a couple of funny parts is rubbish
- Was this review helpful to you?
- (0) Yes |
- No (3)
Report this review
Hush hush? No, spread the word!

By a customer , 27 Jul 2012

Although this film comes from the same stable as airplane it does tend to get overlooked. Rather surprising as well it doesn't have a sequel. But like ap and ap2 if you like your humour sutle, clever and very funny then you won't be disappointed.
- Was this review helpful to you?
- (0) Yes |
- No (1)
Report this review
Top rubbish

By manhunter (2 reviews) , 23 Mar 2012

This movie starts off with a nazi and a spy fighting on a train and then goes to a beach full off surfers shooting clay pigeons. that just sets the tone for the whole movie. laughs are few and far between, and also has a lot of jokes which are only funny if you watched espionage films.
- Was this review helpful to you?
- (0) Yes |
- No (3)
Report this review