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Spies Like Us

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• Duration: 109 mins

Cast and crew

• Director: John Landis
• Screenwriter: Dan Aykroyd, Lowell Ganz, Babaloo Mandel
• Dan Aykroyd
• Chevy Chase
• Steve Forrest
• Charles McKeown
• Donna Dixon
• Derek Meddings
• Bruce Davison
• William Prince
• Bernie Casey

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• 1980s / Adventure / Comedy / War

Spies Like Us (1985)

by Vincent Leo · Published October 12, 2019

The Dr. Strangelove -esque plot of Spies Like Us involves the two most inept, low-level U.S. intelligence agents they could find to go on a mission as expendable decoys for the real agents. Emmett Fitz-Hume (Chevy Chase) and Austin Millbarge (Dan Aykroyd) were scouted by the CIA after cheating on their advanced placement exams, with a mission that sees them parachuting into Pakistan. From there, the bumbling duo ends up in Afghanistan, where they’re mistaken for doctors there on a humanitarian mission for the United Nations, followed by run-ins with the Russians during an effort to draw out the identities of Soviet spies in the area so that the real American spies can complete their mission to check out a news style of Soviet missile launcher. With this launcher, they can send up a Soviet missile in order to test the U.S. anti-missile satellite defenses (a la Reagan’s “Star Wars” defense system) in order to convince the Soviet Union that they have the edge in technology.

Scripted by Aykroyd in the early 1980s, Spies Like   Us was originally meant to be a vehicle starring Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi. Aykroyd had wanted to make it a rehashing of the old Bob Hope/Bing Crosby Road to… films he had enjoyed when he was young (as homage, Bob Hope makes a literal walk-on cameo appearance), and the Belushi/Aykroyd pairing was proving to be as appealing as Hope/Crosby after the smash success of 1980’s The Blues Brothers . However, the script would be in limbo after the untimely death of John Belushi in 1982 from a drug overdose.

Aykroyd would end up proceeding to work with fellow Canadian comedian Dave Thomas during a Jamaican getaway to help retool the script to make up for Belushi’s absence.  For a brief period, it was thought that Thomas might be the one to use the screenplay for his own vehicle to star in with SCTV partner Rick Moranis but he wasn’t tested enough in films to make such a highly ambitious film bankable to produce. Aykroyd had the hotter hand, especially after co-writing and co-starring in the phenomenally popular 1984 film, Ghostbusters , and decided to hone the script some more by handing it to a screenwriting team with a good deal of recent success in comedies, Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel, who had just scored an Oscar nomination for their script to Splash , to remove the excess in terms of the heavier emphasis on the spy element and stick to the basics of what would produce laughs. Together, they would mix the original script’s inept CIA agent premise with the topical nature of American-Soviet tension, especially as it related to the potential for a nuclear war that was the biggest threat to the minds of people in the early to mid-1980s.

As for the director, the role would end up filled by John Landis. Landis had a great track record, but his reputation would get blemished somewhat due to a tragic accident during the second-unit filming of his segment in Twilight Zone: The Movie that resulted in the death of actor Vic Morrow and two Vietnamese child actors. A prolonged lawsuit would follow that put Landis at odds with the studio, Warner Bros, which made him initially balk at working for them again when they gave him the script to  Spies Like Us , which they wanted him to do after successful outings with Aykroyd with The Blues Brothers and Trading Places . Landis’s lawyer advised him to give it a go if for no other reason than it showed that Warner Bros’ felt he was trustworthy enough to be given the reins of another project, ruining their chances of pushing the blame on him alone for the deaths. He reluctantly signed on without reading the script, but once he did give it a look, he felt it was a good opportunity to get away from the heaviness of the lawsuit by filming overseas making a supremely silly road movie.

Warner Bros’ was also pushing new “SNL” played Joe Piscopo to appear in the film alongside Aykroyd but it didn’t come together. Aykroyd knew he needed an established counterweight in comedy to make it complete, so one day, after running into him at a party and reminiscing about ‘old times’, he coaxed his old co-star from “Saturday Night Live”, Chevy Chase, to do it as a buddy film with him. It was their first collaboration since “SNL” other than Chase making a short appearance in the music video for Ghostbusters .  They had their fun working together but Aykroyd’s films were far better known to those they worked with while shooting in London, causing Chase to become grouchy and overbearing, causing friction with Landis, who didn’t even want him to be in the film save for Aykroyd’s desire.

The bulk of the production would be done at Twickenham Studios in London, then proceed to Norway for the snowy winter scenes, and then Morocco for the segments involving the trip to Pakistan and Afghanistan, followed by additional shoots in Lancaster and Palmdale, CA, and Washington DC. The Norway scenes were well below zero temperatures, with snow as deep as eight feet,  making the shoot there grueling for cast and crew. Meanwhile, the Sahara Desert cooked the cast and crew on a daily basis, with temperatures that near 130 degrees Fahrenheit.

Donna Dixon was initially reluctant to take her role in the film, as she was the wife of Dan Aykroyd and wanted no special treatment. She had similarly turned down the Sigourney Weaver role in  Ghostbusters for the same reason but ended up getting convinced to audition with everyone else and earn it on her own. Speaking of  Ghostbusters , Aykroyd was able to bring over the same composer in Elmer Bernstein to score  Spies Like Us with his trademark light and playful touch.

Warner Bros. approached Paul McCartney to do the title song for the film, which gave Landis mixed feelings because it was quite a coup to get such a major talent to contribute a song, but the movie was pretty much finished at the time and he didn’t want to re-edit the opening. After much back and forth, Landis and Warner Bros’ came to an agreement that it would play during the closing credits. McCartney worked on this during the period he was making his album “Press to Play” (where it appears as a bonus track on CDs issued later), and performed all of the instruments on the track save the synthesizer, which was done by Eddie Rayner from the group Split Enz, and the backing vocals. The track would shoot to #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States, and its music video featured McCartney along with stars Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd. Since then McCartney has mostly distanced himself from the song, despite it being his final top ten hit in the U.S.

Cameo appearances galore are in the film. B.B. King gets a part, as John Landis happened to be working on a documentary short on the bluesman at the time called B.B. King “Into the Night ” which was a collection of music videos meant to promote his next album of the same name.

As far as the finished product goes,  Spies Like Us can be a mixed bag and its enjoyment will certainly depend on the viewer’s expectations and state of mind at the time of viewing. Although it isn’t a kids’ film in any way, younger viewers and those who just enjoy silly shenanigans will likely find the slapstick humor and slapdash zaniness to be amusing for how far they are willing to go to get a laugh. Viewed with an objective critical eye, its “Three Stooges”-level style of mugging, lowbrow humor was already antiquated by the time it was made in the mid-1980s, but given that it is meant to be a throwback to the Hope/Crosby era, and that both Chase and Aykroyd would do even more inane comedies down the road, it will likely get a pass for big fans of either of the two lead stars.

Once the film was completed, test audiences mostly complained about the intended ending, which would result in World War III erupting due to the botched mission that essentially caused the end of the world. Revisions would be made so that such a downbeat ending to an otherwise light and goofy film could be avoided. Nevertheless, the threat of nuclear annihilation, whether it was carried out of not, is still a bit heavy way to end the film, undercutting the tone of childish absurdity that would threaten to leave audiences walking out a bit deflated. Luckily, after a “make love not war” diversion, they were able to add an extra scene of epilogue where nuclear wars are played on board games rather than in real-world scenarios, snapping that tone back to its tongue-in-cheek vibe it would achieve in its best moments.

Despite a rather large budget for a comedy at a reported $22 million, Spies Like Us would end up being a pretty big hit in 1985, spending two entire months in the top ten films domestically, racking up a hefty $60 million, which also placed it as the tenth highest-grossing film of the year, just a million behind  The Goonies .

Despite its comedic star appeal,  Spies Like Us hasn’t gone down to be a classic 1980s comedy like so many others, though it is generally liked by audiences as a diversion more than as a comedy they fully embrace. Because it will probably stroke better for juvenile viewers, and many kids today don’t have the kind of love for the original “SNL” stars that those who were teens in the 1980s had, its appeal may be limited for garnering new fans, especially as some of the humor in regards to women as object hasn’t aged as well. It’s breezy and does deliver a handful of funny moments, enough to recommend, but anyone expecting Aykroyd to continue his comedic momentum going as a screenwriter will likely be disappointed that the funniest moments in Spies Like Us would be comparable to the least funny moments in Ghostbusters.

Qwipster’s rating : B-

MPAA Rated: PG for sexual references, comic violence, and language (I would rate this PG-13) Running time: 101 min. Cast: Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, Donna Dixon, Steve Forrest, Bruce Davison, William Prince, Tom Hatten, Charles McKeown, Bernie Casey, Vanessa Angel Small roles: Bob Hope, Frank Oz, Terry Gilliam, Ray Harryhausen, Joel Coen, Sam Raimi, Martin Brest, Costa Gravas, B.B. King, Michael Apted, Larry Cohen, Edwin Newman, Bob Swaim Director: John Landis Screenplay: Dan Aykroyd, Lowell Ganz, Babaloo Mandel

Tags: Afghanistan Babaloo Mandel Bernie Casey Bruce Davison buddy comedy Charles McKeown Chevy Chase CIA Dan Aykroyd decoy Donna Dixon espionage John Landis Lowell Ganz Pakistan Russia satellite soviet union spy Steve Forrest Tom Hatten Vanessa Angel William Prince

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Spies Like Us (1985)

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35 Years Ago: ‘Spies Like Us’ Falters When It Gets to the Spy Part

Spies Like Us followed the growing '80s-era premise that a Saturday Night Live alum or two was all a comedy needed to find success at the box office. Plot? Not so much.

The film, which opened on Dec. 6, 1985, began life as a sort of homage to the legendary Road pictures starring Bob Hope and Bing Crosby, according to director John Landis . But that's precisely when the laughs die out, as Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase transition from low-level government flunkies into unwitting red herrings at far-off locales in a convoluted Cold War-era narrative.

Aykroyd had actually been working on the script for years, having first envisioned the movie as another chance to pair up with their fellow SNL co-star John Belushi . Then Belushi overdosed . A few years later, Chase became available once he jettisoned a similar but incomplete spy-themed project.

"After John died, the script was rewritten for Dan and Richard Pryor , but the studios didn't like it," Chase told the Chicago Tribune in 1985. "I had been working at Warner Bros. on an ABSCAM -like project that I wasn't too keen about, but I told them that I did like this script that Danny had written about a couple of State Department spies who are sent off as decoys on a mission."

That was the spark Aykroyd needed. "Chevy helped me get Spies Like Us made," Aykroyd told the Boston Globe in 1988. "I'm a great originator, I'll say that about myself. But as an executor, I like the collaborative process. I like that boiler-room atmosphere. I guess that's from the show. I like to write."

Watch the Cheating on the Exam Scene From 'Spies Like Us'

The story was later polished by Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel, who were then best known for the hit comedy Splash . But Aykroyd took his first opportunity as a screenwriter very seriously – and the Rooskie-fighting secret agent stuff, too.

"It was a lot of great ideas, but it was a little formless and needed work," Aykroyd told Knight-Ridder Newspapers in 1985. So he and Dave Thomas, an SCTV album who developed the story with Aykroyd, took a road trip for inspiration. They actually "went to Ian Fleming's house in Jamaica, the GoldenEye Plantation – you know, where he wrote the [James] Bond novels," Aykroyd said, adding reverently: "I sat at his desk."

The best moments, however, had nothing to do with 007. Chase's patented blend of idiocy and irony is particularly effective during an early scene where he takes a foreign-service exam. The basic-training sequence offers a few chuckles, in particular as the pair is put through "radical vertical-impact simulation." Then Landis whisks them away for a Really Big Adventure, having assembled a supporting cast of savvy vets (Bruce Davison, Steve Forrest from S.W.A.T. , Monty Python 's Terry Gilliam) and relative newcomers (Donna Dixon of TV's Bosom Buddies , former model Vanessa Angel).

"We shot in Norway and the Sahara, which double in the movie for Russia and Pakistan," Chase told the Tribune , "and basically what we do is prevent World War III." That small detail is kept hidden until the climax, however, turning the true nature of the bumbling spies' mission into a cheap-ploy revelation.

Along the way, we also never learn why these two remarkably incompatible main characters would ever be friends. The focus instead is on dick jokes and doctor-doctor-doctor jokes.

Watch the Intelligence Training Scene From 'Spies Like Us'

Spies Like Us eventually devolves into a "loose progression of recycled Abbott and Costello riffs and fumbled Strangelovean satire," as the Chicago Reader rightly noted. Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel seemed to be far more interested in Angel, who played a curvy Soviet rocket-crew member, than anything that actually happened to Aykroyd's former codebreaker or Chase's entitled pencil pusher.

Best then for movie buffs to focus on Landis' penchant for cameos, as several fellow directors (including Michael Apted and Martin Brest) join Bob Hope, Frank Oz and B.B. King in guest roles. Of course, not everybody was enamored with the tactic. "It's director John Landis' way of ensuring that at least someone will want to see his movie," the Washington Post sniffed. Still, King delivered one of the film's most quotable moments: " Won't you gentlemen have a Pepsi? "

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the budget eventually ballooned to $22 million. Yet hopes were still understandably high: Aykroyd was coming off Ghostbusters , and Chase had just starred in the sequel to his huge hit National Lampoon's Vacation . Aykroyd, Chase, Landis, Dixon and Angel also returned for the video to accompany Paul McCartney 's title song, helping the former Beatles star to his final Top 10 Billboard single.

More critics pounced, but the SNL -stars-in-underdeveloped-'80s-comedies formula worked: Spies Like Us slipped into the year-ending Top 10 for highest-grossing films with $60 million in domestic box-office gross.

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Spies Like Us: Movie Review

Spies Like Us  stars Chevy Chase as Emmett Fitz-Hume and Dan Aykroyd as Austin Millbarge. It was directed by John Landis from a screenplay by Dan Aykroyd and others. It was released in 1985 and is often mentioned as a cult classic.

Warning: Major spoilers are blacked out like this: [blackout]secret[/blackout]. To view them, just select/highlight them.

Spies Like Us: Logline

US intelligence promote two incompetents, give them perfunctory training and send them to draw attention away from real spies. But when the real spies are killed, the hapless dupes must carry out the mission for real.

Spies Like Us: Plot Summary

An American intelligence agency (disguised as the Ace Tomato Company) has located a new model of Soviet ICBM launcher and decides to send an elite team of secret agents to investigate it. But Soviet counter-intelligence has been having a lot of success, so the agency decide to find a couple of expendable employees, train them as spies and send them to draw attention away from the real mission.

Despite being a genius, Austin Millbarge works in a low level job in the Pentagon. Emmett Fitz-Hume is the son of an diplomat who doesn’t take his job seriously. They both take the foreign service exam. Fitz-Hume tries to cheat, Millbarge becomes involved and they both fail. This makes them ideal patsies.

The two are given perfunctory spy training at a special forces base and then parachuted into Pakistan. They are immediately picked up by KGB agents posing as their contacts, but escape. They’re then captured by tribesmen and rescued by a United Nations medical team, that includes a beautiful doctor, Karen Boyer, who Fitz-Hume immediately falls in love with. They pose as surgeons, but after a failed operation on a tribesman, they have to flee again.

They contact their controller, who is surprised to discover they are still alive, but keeps up the pretence by ordering them into the Soviet Union. They see Karen and one of the other UN medics, and realise they must be the real spies. They follow them across the mountains and into the Soviet Union. At the border, Fitz-Hume is captured by the guards. The other spy is killed and so Karen teams up with Millbarge to rescue Fitz-Hume. She persuades them to help her complete the mission.

Disguised as aliens., the three spies find the ICBM they were ordered to locate and tranquillise the guards.

The spies’ controller orders them to enter some instructions into the launcher. [blackout]This results in the ICBM launching. [/blackout]

The general in charge [blackout]reveals the spies were sent to launch the ICBM in order to test a US anti-missile laser, show that it works and secure more funding. But the laser misses. Millbarge calculates they have less than an hour until a nuclear war destroys the world. The US general is unconcerned, convinced that the USA will win the war.[/blackout]

The spies and the guards [blackout]team up. Millbarge realises that he can reprogram the missile in flight, to explode harmlessly in space.[/blackout]

In the USA, [blackout]the General is arrested.[/blackout]

In the epilogue, Millbarge and Fitz-Hume [blackout]have returned to the diplomatic service and are seen in friendly competition with their new Soviet friends.[/blackout]

Spies Like Us: Analysis

Spies Like Us  is a comedy-thriller with more comedy than thrills. The plot is really an excuse to string together a series of comic scenes, some almost irrelevant to the plot and included purely for laughs, such as the ‘training’ sequence, where sight gags abound. This gives the movie a contrived feel, almost like an extended sketch show. Like a lot of comedies, the audience is supposed to accept the implausibility as part of the comedy. How successful this is depends on the viewer’s opinion of the jokes, which are mostly plays on Fitz-Hume’s cowardice, laziness and general ineptitude.

Where Spies Like Us does shine is its quick-fire one liners. For example when Fitz-Hume is being threatened with torture by the KGB.

KGB agent: For every wrong answer, I cut off a finger. Fitz-Hume: Mine or yours?

Near the end, the movie does become semi-serious [blackout]as Millbarge calculates the world has only an hour left until nuclear destruction[/blackout]. The character’s initial response is to pair up and have sex (luckily for the heroes the two hot girls choose them). Originally, this was the ending, giving shades of  Doctor Strangelove , but the test audiences didn’t like the sudden lurch into black comedy, and so a new happier ending was added. This is more in keeping with the frivolousness of the rest of the story,  Spies Like Us  is no  Doctor Strangelove  and shouldn’t try to be.

Spies Like Us: My Rating

A bit of fun. Fast paced and with lots of jokes, it’s an out and out comedy, so try not to think about the plot too much.

Want to watch it?

The DVD is available on Amazon US  and Amazon UK .

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Spies Like Us

Two totally incompetent applicants, Emmett Fitzhume and Austin Millbarge, are chosen from a CIA recruitment program. They are parachuted into Pakistan and eventually end up in Afghanistan, chased by the Russians, where they learn they are being used as decoys to draw out the Sovet defenses. Two real spies are sent in. Their mission is to Hijack a soviet Missile launcher, launch the Soviet missile and test the new US orbital defence laser. The missile is fired and while heading for an American City, the laser system misses it's target. The contingency plan for this scenario, as set out by the Pentagon Nuts who planned it from deep within a secret underground bunker, is to let the 3rd World War happen anyway.

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Spies Like Us Reviews

• 22   Metascore
• 1 hr 49 mins
• Family, Comedy, Action & Adventure
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Two misfit low-level CIA agents are turned into decoys by their superiors and sent to Pakistan to distract Soviet agents from discovering the genuine American spies in the area. However, the two bumbling buddies end up making more of a difference in the cold war than anyone expects.

Austin Millbarge (Dan Aykroyd) and Emmett Fitz-Hume (Chevy Chase) are a pair of bumbling government workers handpicked by the CIA to be decoy agents in a highly secretive mission. The two end up in the camp of some Afghan rebels, where a volunteer medical team mistakes them for a pair of important doctors. When the error is uncovered, the two are off on the road to nowhere trying to find out about this unnamed mission. Karen Boyer (Donna Dixon), one of the doctors at the rebel camp, hooks up with the boys, for she is actually a "real" CIA agent who seems to know what this mysterious mission entails. Director John Landis tries to evoke the spirit of the Bob Hope-Bing Crosby "Road" pictures, but not even a brief cameo by Hope himself can breathe much life into this film. The nature of their mission is kept hidden from both the bumbling spies and the audience until the movie's climax, but the buildup is so tedious and unfunny that the payoff just isn't there. Landis' direction is indulgent, to say the least, with big landscapes, big crashes, big hardware, and big gags filling the screen. What he forgets is character development, that all-important factor that must exist for comedy to work well.

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Spies Like Us (1985)

Synopsis: two bumbling government employees think they are u.s. spies, only to discover that they are actually decoys for nuclear war., connect with us.

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Rotten Tomatoes® Score

…watchable comedy, front-loaded with gags that thin out as conventional spy movie mechanisms take over…

Dated '80s comedy has strong language, few laughs.

That Chase is godawful is no surprise -- he's been running on empty for years with variations on that tired "I'm Chevy Chase and you're not" riff.

Landis' direction is indulgent, to say the least, with big landscapes, big crashes, big hardware, and big gags filling the screen. What he forgets is character development, that all-important factor that must exist for comedy to work well.

The movie has since become a cult classic; one that those of a certain age and gender have committed to near memory and can spout lines and scenes on command like a new Army recruit.

nothing more than a nostalgia trip for people my age who remember seeing it in theatres and, because we were twelve, thinking it was hilarious.

...may never reach comic heights but, nonetheless, maintains a good-natured charm.

Landis never bothers to account for the friendship that springs up spontaneously between these two antipathetic types, but then he never bothers to account for anything in this loose progression of recycled Abbott and Costello riffs.

The script is so patchy that most of the genuine laughs are squeezed into the first half; the rest is a rather tacky and confused extended joke about the nuclear arms race.

Additional Info

• Genre : Action, Comedy
• Release Date : December 6, 1985
• Languages : English
• Captions : English
• Audio Format : Stereo

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37 Facts About The Movie Spies Like Us

Written by Marilin Kramer

Modified & Updated: 18 Jul 2024

Reviewed by Sherman Smith

Spies Like Us is a classic comedy film that has entertained audiences for decades with its hilarious antics and comedic performances. Directed by John Landis and released in 1985, this cult favorite stars the iconic comedic duo, Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd. The film revolves around the story of two bumbling government employees who are mistakenly recruited as spies and sent on a top-secret mission. Packed with memorable one-liners, ridiculous situations, and slapstick humor, Spies Like Us has become a beloved staple in the comedy genre. In this article, we will delve into 37 fascinating facts about this iconic movie , from its behind-the-scenes stories to its lasting impact on popular culture. So grab your popcorn , sit back, and let’s dive into the world of Spies Like Us!

Key Takeaways:

• Spies Like Us, released in 1985, stars comedy legends Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd, and features a memorable cameo by Bob Hope. It’s a hilarious journey into the world of espionage with a touch of social commentary.
• The film’s impeccable comedic timing, memorable set pieces, and star-studded cast have earned it a devoted fan base and a lasting legacy in pop culture. It’s a timeless classic that continues to entertain audiences with its unique blend of slapstick and clever humor.

Spies Like Us was released in 1985.

Directed by John Landis, this comedic masterpiece graced the silver screen in the year 1985, entertaining audiences with its hilarious take on the world of espionage.

It stars comedy legends Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd.

Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd brought their comedic genius to the film, delivering memorable performances that left audiences in stitches.

The screenplay was written by Dan Aykroyd and Dave Thomas.

Aykroyd not only starred in the movie but also had a hand in writing the script, along with his collaborator Dave Thomas .

The movie was a box office success.

Spies Like Us grossed over $60 million worldwide, making it a commercial success and reaffirming the popularity of its talented cast.

The film features a memorable cameo by Bob Hope.

The legendary entertainer Bob Hope makes a special appearance in the movie, adding an extra touch of star power to an already impressive cast.

The plot revolves around two bumbling government employees.

Chase and Aykroyd play two inept government workers who are unwittingly thrust into the world of espionage, leading to a series of hilarious misadventures.

The soundtrack includes the catchy theme song “Spies Like Us.”

An instrumental version of the song “Spies Like Us” by Paul McCartney was used as the film’s theme song, capturing the playful and comedic tone of the movie.

It was filmed in various locations, including Washington, D.C., and Morocco.

The film took viewers on a journey across different settings, showcasing the iconic landmarks of Washington , D.C., and exploring the exotic beauty of Morocco .

The movie incorporates satirical elements mocking the Cold War era.

Spies Like Us cleverly satirizes the political tensions of the Cold War era, adding a layer of social commentary to its comedic storyline.

It received mixed reviews from critics.

While audiences embraced the film’s comedic charm, critics had varying opinions about its overall execution, resulting in mixed reviews.

The film was a collaboration between the United States and the Soviet Union.

Spies Like Us marked a unique collaboration between filmmakers from the United States and the Soviet Union, fostering a spirit of cultural exchange.

Several iconic comedy sketches were improvised on set.

With Chase and Aykroyd’s improvisational skills on full display, several memorable comedy sketches were created spontaneously during filming.

The title is a play on the phrase “Spies Like Us.”

The title of the movie is a clever play on the phrase “Spies Like Us,” highlighting the comical nature of the story and the characters involved.

The film features a memorable car chase scene.

Spies Like Us delivers an exhilarating car chase sequence, filled with comedic moments and fast-paced action that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats.

The wardrobe and costumes were designed by Deborah Nadoolman.

Renowned costume designer Deborah Nadoolman lent her creative touch to the film, ensuring that each character’s wardrobe perfectly captured their personality and style.

The movie has gained a cult following over the years.

While it may not have initially received widespread critical acclaim, Spies Like Us has amassed a devoted fan base who appreciate its unique brand of comedy.

It combines elements of comedy and adventure.

Spies Like Us successfully blends the genres of comedy and adventure, offering audiences a movie experience that is both laughter-inducing and thrilling.

The film showcases the chemistry between Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd.

Chase and Aykroyd’s on-screen chemistry is a major highlight of the film, elevating the comedic moments and making their characters’ dynamic truly enjoyable to watch.

It parodies popular spy films of the time.

As a comedic take on the world of espionage, Spies Like Us parodies the conventions and clichés of popular spy films from the 1980s, offering a refreshing twist to the genre.

The movie was dedicated to former President Ronald Reagan.

Spies Like Us pays tribute to former President Ronald Reagan in its closing credits, highlighting his contributions to the world of politics and his impact on the era the film depicts.

It features a memorable and hilarious exchange between Chase and Aykroyd’s characters.

One of the most memorable moments in the film is a comedic exchange between Chase and Aykroyd’s characters, showcasing their impeccable comedic timing.

The film’s success led to a proposed sequel that never materialized.

Due to the success of Spies Like Us, there were talks of a potential sequel, but unfortunately, the plans never came to fruition.

The movie received a BMI Film Music Award.

The film’s score, composed by Elmer Bernstein, earned a BMI Film Music Award, recognizing its exceptional contribution to the overall cinematic experience.

It has become a beloved classic among comedy enthusiasts.

Over the years, Spies Like Us has garnered a devoted following of comedy enthusiasts who appreciate its timeless humor and unforgettable performances.

The film showcases memorable comedic set pieces.

From extravagant parties to elaborate disguises, Spies Like Us features several comedic set pieces that further enhance the movie’s entertainment value.

It emphasizes the importance of teamwork.

Throughout the film, Chase and Aykroyd’s characters learn the value of teamwork as they navigate through their unexpected spy mission , reinforcing the importance of collaboration.

The movie features a memorable dance sequence.

A delightful dance sequence adds a touch of whimsy to the film, showcasing the comedic talents of the cast in a lighthearted and enjoyable manner.

It incorporates witty dialogue and one-liners.

Spies Like Us is packed with witty dialogue and memorable one-liners, contributing to the film’s overall comedic brilliance.

The movie offers a lighthearted escape from reality.

With its amusing storyline and humorous performances, Spies Like Us provides audiences with a lighthearted escape from the stresses of everyday life.

It features a star-studded supporting cast.

In addition to Chase and Aykroyd, the film boasts a talented supporting cast that includes the likes of Donna Dixon, Steve Forrest, and Bruce Davison.

The movie’s production budget was $22 million.

With a production budget of $22 million, Spies Like Us spared no expense in bringing its comedic vision to life on the big screen.

It was filmed in various locations, including England and California.

The production team traveled to different locations, including England and California, to capture the diverse settings depicted in the film.

The film’s comedic timing is impeccable.

Thanks to the skillful direction of John Landis and the comedic expertise of its cast, Spies Like Us delivers impeccable comedic timing that keeps audiences engaged from start to finish.

It remains a fan favorite at comedy film festivals.

Spies Like Us continues to be celebrated at comedy film festivals around the world, solidifying its status as a beloved fan favorite in the genre.

The movie offers a unique blend of slapstick and clever humor.

Blending slapstick comedy with clever humor, Spies Like Us delights viewers with its ability to cater to both fans of physical comedy and those who appreciate witty wordplay.

It features memorable supporting characters.

From the quirky Dr. Milne to the enigmatic General Sline, Spies Like Us introduces memorable supporting characters who add depth and eccentricity to the overall story.

The film’s legacy lives on in pop culture references.

Spies Like Us has left an indelible mark on pop culture , with references and homages to the film appearing in various mediums, showcasing its enduring influence.

So there you have it, the 37 fascinating facts about the movie Spies Like Us! Whether you’re a fan of comedy, espionage, or simply enjoy a good laugh, this film offers a delightful journey into a world of hilarious misadventures. From its all-star cast to its clever satire, Spies Like Us remains a beloved classic that continues to entertain audiences decades after its release. So grab some popcorn, settle in, and enjoy this comedic gem!

In conclusion, Spies Like Us is a timeless comedy that has captivated audiences for decades. With its hilarious duo of Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd, the movie takes us on a wild and entertaining journey through the world of espionage. From the iconic moments to the memorable one-liners, this film has become a classic that continues to be cherished by fans of all ages. So, if you’re in the mood for some laughter and adventure, grab your popcorn and give Spies Like Us a watch. You won’t be disappointed!

Q: Who are the main actors in Spies Like Us?

A: The main actors in Spies Like Us are Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd, who play the roles of Emmett Fitz-Hume and Austin Millbarge respectively.

Q: When was Spies Like Us released?

A: Spies Like Us was released on December 6, 1985.

Q: Who directed Spies Like Us?

A: Spies Like Us was directed by John Landis.

Q: What is the plot of Spies Like Us?

A: Spies Like Us follows the misadventures of two bumbling government employees who are chosen by mistake to be decoy spies during a Cold War mission in the Soviet Union.

Q: Is Spies Like Us based on a true story?

A: No, Spies Like Us is not based on a true story. It is a fictional comedy film.

Q: Can you recommend other movies similar to Spies Like Us?

A: If you enjoyed the humor and spy-themed storyline of Spies Like Us, you might also like movies such as Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, Johnny English, and The Naked Gun series.

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