You know, even though I’d not seen this before, the number of take-off and parodies I’d seen in things like The Simpsons and Family Guy made it feel like it was a repeat. Of course, I didn’t really know the plot (and there were a few twists in it anyway), but I started thinking to myself – “this is the bit where…”.
Which I suppose is testament to it’s classic film status, really. There are a few jarring special effects (mainly the usual stuff from films of this age – pre-filmed scenery in driving shots, and so on), but the story stands up well, and it’s even pretty funny. Thornhill, the advertising exec who manages to be mistaken for a spy who doesn’t actually exist, comes out with some great one-liners. His method for getting himself arrested (and therefore out of harm’s way) at an auction was fantastic!
The number of situations and locations more than rivals any Bond film, and the spy-who-isn’t seemingly has a Magic Pocket of Money – something Q never managed. He goes on a whistle-stop tour of the US, pulling out cash for transport and tips, trying to track down the spy he’s supposed to be. Only of course, that can’t happen. He gets tangled up even further between the two factions, and even more so with Eve, who appears to be working for both sides, and for him. It all gets a bit complicated.
Then, when you think it’s all over and there’s a happy ending for all, there’s suddenly half an hour more film!
Verdict: 4/5
