"Women! Can't Live With Em, Can't Kill Em" Albert Gibson

Harry Tasker (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is a secret agent who masquerades as a computer salesman. His job is so secret even his wife of fifteen years doesn't know that he is not what he says he is.

The film opens with Harry's CIA team covertly penetrating an ultra exclusive villa in Switzerland during a society party to steal secrets. Just how Harry gets in I will leave to your viewing pleasure but the way he leaves is full of patented Schwartzenegger action and is guaranteed to have you on the edge of your seat. After this scene establishes Harry's character, conflict is introduced.

The trouble starts when Harry's bored (and mousy) wife Helen (Jamie Lee Curtis) starts an affair and Harry finds out about it. Harry immediately (and illegally) brings all his CIA resources to bear to ferret out the rat who is cuckolding him. Just how Harry does this makes for some mighty hilarious viewing, also.

In the meantime, terrorists have obtained four nuclear warheads from the former Soviet Union. Harry's problem is to save the world and get his wife back. Just how he does all this makes for an incredible two hours of fun!

Directed by James Cameron, who also worked with Arnold in Terminator and T2, True Lies is everything an action picture should be, thrilling and fun, too. Cameron has just the right touch in juxtaposing breakneck action with humor and making it work.

Script, by a committee, is wonderful with a great sense of humor that pokes good-natured fun at the James Bond genre. The casting is inspired, with Schwarzenegger as a credible 007-like character, complete with tuxedo and tangoing up a storm with exotic beauty Tia Carrere (one of the baddies). Tom Arnold as Schwarzenegger's partner Albert Gibson provides mucho comedic relief with his frenetic but unsuccessful attempts to keep Arnold from taking decisive action. Jamie Lee Curtis as Helen Tasker whose mock striptease shows the old girl still has an incredible figure along with a fine sense of comedic timing as her klutzy moves prove. Bill Paxton as the enigmatic but totally phony Simon proves a million laughs also. The terrorists, led by Art Malik were good but of the generic middle eastern sort, not exceptional except for the action scenes featuring Malik himself. You'll chortle with delight when you see what happens when Schwartzenegger tells him, "You're fired."

Photography by Russell Carpenter is flawless and uses locations around Washington to great advantage. You'll love the chase sequence involving Schwarzenegger, a horse, and a hotel. The special effects crew deserve kudos also as they produced some of the most unbelievable, yet believable special effects, like blowing a bridge using Marine Corps Harrier jump jets. The only con, and it's a minor one, is that they could have trimmed a few minutes from the 141-minute running time. I would suggest the interrogation sequence could be streamlined. Other than that, film editing was brilliant.

All in all, True Lies is a must-see movie. You can rest assured it will have your full attention with its incredible but believable visual and comic scenes.

For those who like action and adventure, I also recommend the Schwarzenegger films Terminator, Red Heat and Total Recall.


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening