If Looks Could Kill (1991)

Director:

William Dear

Writers (WGA):

Fred Dekker (story)
Darren Star (screenplay)

Release Date:

15 March 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Fantasy

Tagline:

He's having the adventure of someone else's life.

Plot:

When Michael Corben, along with the rest of his high-school French class, set out for a trip to France...

Plot Keywords:

Teen | Secret Agent | Espionage | Spoof | Spy Hero

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Richard Grieco	...	Michael Corben
Roger Rees	...	Augustus Steranko
Linda Hunt	...	Ilsa Grunt
Robin Bartlett	...	Patricia Grober
Gabrielle Anwar	...	Mariska
Geraldine James	...	Vendetta Galante
Michael Siberry	...	Derek Richardson
Carole Davis	...	Areola Canasta
Frederick Coffin	...	Lieutenant Colonel Larabee
Tom Rack	...	Zigesfeld
Roger Daltrey	...	Blade
Oliver Dear	...	Kent
Cynthia Preston	...	Melissa Tyler (as Cyndy Preston)
Michael Sinelnikoff	...	Haywood
Travis Swords	...	Kelly

Also Known As:

Teen Agent (UK)

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Finland:K-14 (re-rating) | Finland:K-16 (original rating) | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Germany:16 | Australia:PG | Norway:10 | Spain:T | Sweden:15 | USA:PG-13 | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Manoir Richelieu, Québec, Canada

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Director Cameo: [William Dear]as the bomb tester. He utters the line, "Maybe later"

Goofs:

Factual errors: Both the Lotus Esprit and the Nissan 300ZX are US models, shown by the different lights, different body styles (that model of 300ZX was never sold in Europe, and has a French number plate over the smaller US plate mounting), and that year of Esprit was never sold with an air bag in Europe.

Quotes:

Mrs Grober: THE BAR'S CLOSED!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Mission: Impossible (1996)

Soundtrack:

MAYBE THIS TIME

Reasonably Funny Spy Spoof

I get tired of pointing these things out to people, but this is a comedy. People complaining about that fact that's it's unrealistic seem to be missing something. At no point did the movie makers expect you to find this realistic.

It's an escapist teen fantasy. Ordinary guy gets to drive expensive car, meet cute women, and have an adventure.

Of COURSE it's ludricous. But it's cute and funny in a lot of spots. I laughed out loud many times BECAUSE it's silly. So if you prefer sophisticated humor, maybe this is not for you.

It's less silly than say Top Secret. It's more of a straight action/adventure - it's just that the premise is totally unrealistic and so is the protagonist - he goes from being clueless to saving the day. Don't expect James Bond here people - it's not supposed to be.

I give it 7 out of 10. Why? Because it made me laugh out loud in multiple spots. Which is the point to comedies.

(Why some people watch comedies when they lack of a sense of humor is beyond me - some of the comments made here indicate that they do, though :)