Hopscotch

I saw this movie when it was released twenty-four years ago and I am happy to say that it has not aged at all. It is just as funny and delightful today as it was then. "Hopscotch" is a diamond in the rough and a real gem. Walter Matthau plays an experienced CIA agent, Miles Kendig, who is sentence to a desk job by his idiot boss, for disciplinary reasons.

If you are a Walter Matthau fan then this is a must see movie. If you are not familiar with Matthau then `Hopscotch' will be a great introduction to one of the most talented actors in Hollywood history. Even though `Hopscotch' is based from a novel the role of Miles Kendig must have been written for Walter Matthau. He was brilliant!

I certainly don't want to over shadow the terrific supporting cast. Ned Beatty and Glanda Jackson were superb. You will also get to see a very young Sam Waterston. Pay special attention to CIA agent `Ross' played my Matthau's son David.

I doubt anyone will read this far into the reviews, but for the record I felt I had to contribute. We all of us watch many, many movies, and some of us feel motivated to review some or all of them no matter the quality. I HAD TO REVIEW THIS, despite the fact I seldom bother, for I genuinely feel it was a delight. Previous reviewers will provide the details, and for example, the first review by dbborroughs has it completely right: wholesome, intelligent fun that is so seldom achieved by more "modern" movies that seem compelled to add gratuitous violence, explosions, one-liners, etc. There are shortcomings that could be improved, of course, but in the end they don't matter. The viewer is left with a smile that didn't depend on potty jokes or shock tactics for stimulation. Brilliant. The overall work is a true gem. Enjoy!

Walter Matthau's Sense of Verbal Easiness and Physical Slouching is Showcased in this Breezy, Easy Going Spy Comedy. The Laughs are Subtle most of the Time Lending itself to Situations and Dry Displays of Visual and Verbal Offhandedness.

It's a Fun Film, especially if You Like Mattheau. The Supporting Cast all do Good work. Ned Beatty, Sam Waterston, Herbert Lom, and Glenda Jackson all Play Off of the Mattheau Schickt.

It Moves at a Fast Pace where there is No Time for Fancy Frills and Thrills, it gets its Energy from anything but the Spy Movies it is Satirizing. There is Virtually No Resemblance to a "Bond" Movie or even a "Flint". It's Style is more like a TV Show where Everything is Bright, Colorful, Staged, Minimal, and Unpretentious.

Overall, it is Witty Enough and Engaging Enough to be Entertaining for the Majority of Moviegoers. Although, it got Mediocre Reviews Initially, the Movie has Gained more Acceptance Over the Years.

The Globe Hopping Helps the Postcard Look and is Definitely Worth a Watch for Undiscriminating Fans of the Spy Genre, Fluffy Take-Offs, and those who just want to Fly through a Couple of Hours with very little to Tax the Viewer. It's almost Therapeutic in its Zen Like Naturalness.

"Miles Kendig" (Walter Matthau) is a calm and experienced senior agent for the CIA in Europe who is liked and respected by everyone in the intelligence business. Everybody but his arrogant new boss in Washington D.C. named "G. P. Myerson" (Ned Beatty) that is. And because of this personal animosity Myerson has for him Miles is fired from his current position and reassigned to a menial desk job. Naturally, this doesn't sit well with Miles who quits his position and-to showcase the total incompetence of his boss-decides to write a tell-all book which discloses some of the failed and scandalous activities Myerson directed on his way up the ladder. Needless to say, this doesn't please Myerson at all who subsequently issues an order to kill Miles before he can do any further damage to his political career. The only problem is that Miles is much smarter that Myerson ever realized and knows how to game the system only too well. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was a pretty good spy film which not only had bits and pieces of comedy here and there but also managed to keep my attention from start-to-finish due to the multitude of twists and turns throughout. Likewise, Walther Matthau put in a very fine performance in the process as well. In any case, I enjoyed this film and have rated it accordingly. Above average.

I think many of us were really surprised to see Criterion release Hopscotch, but glad, were all glad they did. Here Walter Matthau is reprimanded for allowing a wanted KGB agent to walk. Matthau's integrity is too precious to take guff from even the CIA. Subsequently, he does not take the news of being reassigned to the job of file clerk very well so he begins to write his memories, leaking secret information to the opposition. The ensuing chase is slapstick, a Spy vs. Spy comedy with great international locations. Frankly, using the cold war as a catalyst for comedy was long overdue by 1980. A great travel piece.