There are certain movies that are enhanced by the DVD format. The Matrix’s special effects come through crystal clear like you are watching it at the theater and The Godfather looks and feels like it was released yesterday. While both of these movies are classics and beautifully filmed, there is one film that has cried out to be put onto DVD since the invention of the format. That truly powerful film is Top Secret! Well, maybe that statement is a slight exaggeration, but I do find the film funny and entertaining and that’s really all you can ask out of a film.

Top Secret! is a spoof film brought to you by the same people that gave us Airpane!, the Naked Gun series and the two Hot Shots films. Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker have a unique sense of humor and nowhere is that more evident than in Top Secret!. They share directing, writing and producing credits on this spoof of old World War II films. However, like all their films, there really isn’t one genre that they focus on. This film parodies Elvis films, westerns and even foreign films.

Top Secret! focuses on the world of Nick Rivers played by an incredibly young Val Kilmer. Nick is an American music star with tunes that are reminiscent of the Beach Boys. There’s one little difference. He sings about the sport of skeet shooting rather than surfing. His big hits are Skeet Shootin’ and Skeetin’ USA. He is a very big star in America and the evil East German’s want to use his popularity as a diversion to their diabolical plan. That plan is somewhat difficult to figure out because the plot is under developed. It’s not really a big deal because you aren’t coming into this film expecting a finely developed story. You are just supposed to laugh.

When Nick arrives in East Germany he quickly meets a pretty girl named Hillary (Lucy Gutteridge). She is important in the fact that her father, Dr. Flammond, has been imprisoned by the East Germans and is being forced to work to destroy the world. Hillary is an integral part of the French resistance and is on a quest to meet “The Torch.” She is assisted valiantly by Agent Cedric (Omar Sharif) in her quest.

Nick and Hillary fall in love (no big surprise) and soon locate “The Torch.” Amazingly, “The Torch” is Nigel (Christopher Villiers). In most cases, the identity of “The Torch” wouldn’t really be a big deal. However, Nigel and Hillary were stranded on a deserted island for many years and they too fell in love. Hillary had though that Nigel had met a tragic death and that she would never see him again. How wrong she was! He is now the leader of the French Resistance and a key person that can help her rescue her imprisoned father.

Nick, Hillary and Nigel collaborate in order to free Dr. Flammond from Flugendorf prison. They are aided by many others within the French Resistance, such as Déjà Vu, Croissant, Latrine and Chocolate Mousse. The rescue attempt takes on some interesting twists with a surprise turn that will shock you. Needless to say, everything works out and Dr. Flammond is freed and Nick and Hillary leave happily ever after together.

The plot is only half of the joy with the movie. It’s a spoof so the jokes are really the most important thing. The German spoken throughout the film is actually Yiddish so don’t take any of the conversations seriously. If you are lucky enough to speak Yiddish, you will find many of the translations to be extremely funny. There are also plenty of goofy one-liners that are downright hilarious. Some of the funniest scenes to pay special attention to are the dinner scene, the scene where Nick and Hillary first meet the members of the French Resistance and the beginning credits.

Probably the best aspects of the film are the visuals. There are some tremendously unique scenes that are incredibly funny to watch. The first scene occurs when Nick and Hillary visit a Sweedish bookstore to get the location of “The Torch.” It appears as if Nick, Hilllary and the owner (Peter Cushing) are speaking Sweedish, or at least some foreign language. In reality, the scene is actually being played backwards. The actors filmed the scene talking normally in English, but walked and moved backwards. When the scene is played forward it’s an unusual and funny scene. The second unique scene occurs when Nick and Nigel are fighting in a car. The car quickly crashes into a nearby river and the fight continues underwater. The scene is right out of an old western film with a surly bartender and poker players hiding under the table. The only difference is that it’s underwater. Like all of the film, it’s goofy, but still neat to watch.

The acting in Top Secret! is average at best. Val Kilmer was just beginning his acting career so don’t expect a performance like in The Doors or Heat. Lucy Gutteridge is a relative unknown and it’s evident in her performance. Her job is just to act pretty and she does a decent job at it. The majority of the other performers are on the screen for a very short period of time. Omar Sharif plays his role as Agent Cedric straight, putting himself into humorous situations for the sake of getting some big laughs.

The DVD does not really add too much to the film. The widescreen version is available and the picture quality is fabulous so those are definite bonuses. The theatrical trailer is included along with some storyboards from the pre-production. I usually look forward to the commentary when buying a DVD, but in the case of Top Secret! it’s not a bonus. The commentary consists of Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, two producers (Jon Davison and Hunt Lowry) and the moderator, Fred Rubin. They really only discuss the film when prompted by the moderator. He will occasionally ask questions like, “What actor have you always wanted to work with?” The answers are usually boring and of little substance. I guess not every commentary can be as funny as those with Brad Pitt. Fight Club, Seven and Ocean’s Eleven have some of the best commentaries out there and it’s all thanks to Brad Pitt.

It’s very difficult to describe Top Secret! and to do it justice. The plot is difficult to find and the acting is subpar in most cases. However, the film is entertaining and fun. Expect a lot of “spoof” type jokes a la Naked Gun and Airplane! There are tons of sight gags and funny quotes that are sure to have you laughing. It’s not a perfect film, but it’s entertaining and that’s about all you can ask from a film like this.







Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for Groups
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older