The Experts (1989)

When Travis and Wendell are kidnapped while on their way to opening a nightclub in rural Nebraska. The KGB spy Cameron Smith takes them to the U.S.S.R. instead with the intention of ... See full summary »

Director:

Dave Thomas

Writers:

Steven Greene (story), Eric Alter (story),

Stars:

John Travolta, Arye Gross, Kelly Preston

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Travolta	...	Travis
Arye Gross	...	Wendell
Kelly Preston	...	Bonnie
Deborah Foreman	...	Jill
James Keach	...	Yuri
Jan Rubes	...	Illyich
Brian Doyle-Murray	...	Jones (as Brian Doyle Murray)
Charles Martin Smith	...	Mr. Smith
Mimi Maynard	...	Mrs. Smith
Eve Brent	...	Aunt Thelma
Rick Ducommun	...	Sparks
Steve Levitt	...	Gil
Tony Edwards	...	Nathan
Jack Ammon	...	Doc Benson
Marc Reid	...	Billy Smith

Storyline

When Travis and Wendell are kidnapped while on their way to opening a nightclub in rural Nebraska. The KGB spy Cameron Smith takes them to the U.S.S.R. instead with the intention of teaching KGB agents to be hip like Americans.

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Plot Keywords:

kgb

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

Canada USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 January 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Febre Regressa

Filming Locations:

British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Gross:

$169,203 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Paramount Pictures Corporation (Canada)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Paramount wanted director Dave Thomas to go back and reshoot some scenes before its limited release in 1989, but in the intervening two years star John Travolta had gained over 30 pounds, which prevented any new scenes being shot.

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Quotes

Travis: [about the citizens of Indian Springs] Where are we gonna put them? They can't stay at my place.

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Connections

References The Honeymooners (1955)

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Soundtracks

"(They Long To Be) Close To You"
By Burt Bacharach & Hal David
Performed by The Carpenters
Courtesy of A&M Records

User Reviews

So you think you're an expert?

Two young New Yorkers Travis and Wendell are offered the chance to open-up a night-club in a small Nebraska town, well that's what they think. As unknowingly to them they're in the USSR, in which the inhabitants are Russian spies in a replica of an American town that seems to be caught in a time slump of 1950s. They were brought in to instill the current US pop culture / true modernistic outlook.

I wouldn't say it's a laugh out loud or timeless comedy classic, but "The Experts" is an endearing and perfectly pitched zinger with a whole bunch of fun performances. John Travolta and Arye Gross (looking good in mullets) are agreeably candid and work off each other well. They can find themselves really tearing each other apart, but they can't stay mad at each other for too long. A plucky Kelly Preston is unforgettably smoking and Deborah Foreman is likable too. James Keach is quite comical in his short role. Inoffensively light-headed and throwaway screwball comedy that wholesomely plays up its irony-laced one-idea gag of the materialistic appreciation of the American way of life and the acceptance of others. The messages might be heavy-handed, but the breezy script and evocatively original screenplay never over does it. Director Dave Thomas (a recognizable comedian actor) keeps it bright and carefree stringing together random activities with a hip soundtrack to back it up. Silly, but one of kind shenanigans.