S*P*Y*S

What can I say? Reading the comments here, it seems no one liked S*P*Y*S-- but me. It tickled my funny bone. The improbable zany story and the antics of Sutherland and Gould hit home with me. I laughed my tail off. Truth is, I'm not that weird. I don't like everything that comes down the pike and if you're looking for something in the wake of the Vietnamese war-- and Canadian Sutherland and New Yorker Gould were both active protesters of that ghastly war-- that rebukes the folly of war, this piece works. Now, if you're looking for some higher form of art, you might want to direct your attention somewhere else. As for me, the ridiculous situations these two guys get into amused me greatly and I enjoyed this movie immensely. Check it out for yourself.

Two CIA agents - the straight laced Bruland (Donald Sutherland) and unorthodox Griff (Elliott Gould) - are on the run from the Russians, the Chinese, and their own boss (Joss Ackland) in Paris. They hide out with revolutionary Sybil (Zouzou) while trying to locate some mircodots that will help get them money to get out of the country. Shot under the title Wet Stuff, 20th Century Fox changed the title to the asterisk-laden one in an attempt to draw on their mega-hit M*A*S*H (1970) with Sutherland and Gould. About the only thing the two films have in common is the shared leads. It is pretty obvious they thought they could skirt on the charm of the leading men, but both are off their game in scene chewing roles (Gould is especially bad). According to an article in Variety, Sutherland and Gould tried to convince the producers to let them switch roles right before shooting started and I don't think that could have saved it. According to an interview with Gould on the DVD, they improvised a lot on the set. It didn't help. This is rough, rough stuff as director Irvin Kershner fails to get even a single laugh. How bad is it? The comedy highlight is Sutherland getting zonked by nerve gas. Apparently the filmmakers thought this was comedy gold as they did it twice. There is also an oppressively bad score by Jerry Goldsmith that hits you over the head with "this be funny" comedy cues like tubas and, good lord, a slide whistle. There appear to have been attempts to salvage the comedy aspect with lots of dubbed in lines, but it never works. A*V*O*I*D!

Unless you're an absolute die-hard fan of Donald and Elliott, then you might be able to tolerate this movie, but I bet everyone involved in it really regretted doing it. Just as much as you'll regret watching it. They certainly have a great chemistry, and there are a few laughs in spite of everything. My favorite scene is the last one, not only because the movie is over but because Elliott Gould and Donald Sutherland's charm together really comes through. A last-ditch attempt to leave the audience with a smile, perhaps.

S.P.Y.S (2 outta 5 stars)

Pretty lame spy "spoof" that put a kibosh on the possibility of Donald Sutherland and Elliott Gould becoming the greatest comedy team of the '70s. The guys are both great comic actors and they have loads of screen chemistry together. If you don't care much for either of these actors you will probably hate this movie... and if you are a big, big fan of either one of them... well, you probably still won't think much of it. Playing a pair of maverick secret agents forced to work together, they start out complaining and bickering but over the course of their adventure (some overly-complicated plot about assassinations, missing diamonds and foreign agents) they begin to get chummy. Sutherland and Gould have charisma to burn but the lousy, nearly joke-free script doesn't give them much to work with. I suppose if this has been a big box office hit they could have continued the franchise and gone on to bigger and better movies together... but, this tanked with audiences and I don't think they two have worked together since. Anyway, I have to add that I have always absolutely loved the last scene of the movie... as our two defeated heroes, in full-out charming rascal mode, skip off down a lonely road together and start singing:

Oh, we don't know what's comin' tomorrow, Maybe it's trouble and sorrow, But we'll travel the road Sharin' our load Side by side

You take it, brother! Through all kinds of weatherrrrr! Did You hear that, Lord? Whether the sky should fall Whether the skyyyyy should fallllll Just as long as we're together It doesn't matter at all...

Great wrap-up... too bad about the first 85 minutes.

this movie is way underrated. i didn't have high expectations from the previous reviews I had read, my rental was based on the sheer fact I wanted to enjoy these two on screen again. however, I was pleasantly surprised and am still thinking about the dialog long after I watched. hilarious banter!!! and the music---if only i could find the song that plays during the credits(after Elliot and Donald are done singing). its awesome!!! My favorite scene is when the chase the dog and confront anyone who the dog runs up to. These guys don't play dumb, and neither does the conversation between them. Plus, there's not-so-bright french anarchists in the movie. now tell me this doesn't sound fantastic!!!!