SPY HARD at HOLLYWOOD TEEN MOVIES

TITLE : Spy Hard
YEAR OF RELEASE : 1996
CLASSIFICATION : M
DIRECTOR : Rick Friedberg
STARRING : Leslie Nielsen, Nicolette Sheridan, Charles Durning, Marcia Gay Harden, Barry Bostwick, John Ales, Andy Griffith, Elya Baskin, Mason Gamble, Carlos Lauchu, Stephanie Romanov, Dr. Joyce Brothers, Ray Charles, Hulk Hogan, Roger Clinton, Mr.T, Pat Morita.
TAGLINES :
* All the action. All the women. Half the intelligence.
* The Laughs Start Soon!

After the success of “The Naked Gun” trilogy, that poked fun at the cop film, it was inevitable that Leslie Nielson would find another genre to spoof. The next movie genre on his hit list was the secret agent film. It was about one year after Pierce Brosnan made his debut as the new James Bond in “Goldeneye” (1995) that Leslie Nielson was given the opportunity to star in “Spy Hard” as bumbling super spy Dick Steele (aka Agent WD-40). “Spy Hard” may not have reached the standard set by “The Naked Gun” films but it does have its moments, including the action-packed bond style pre-credit sequence (that features Mr. T as a helicopter pilot) followed by Weird Al Yankovic's rendition of “The Spy Hard Theme” over the explosive opening title credits. Look out for a cavalcade of famous faces in small “blink-and-you-miss-em” roles including, Hulk Hogan, Mr. T, Pat Morita and Ray Charles as a bus driver in a sequence that is a parody of the action flick “Speed”. Also, TV star, Andy Griffith of “Matlock” and “The Andy Griffith Show” fame joins in the fun as super-villain, General Rancor. Although not a critical success, the film still managed to please Leslie Nielson fans and make some bucks at the box office. “Spy Hard” was made on a budget of $18 million and grossed over $26 million at the US box office, not bad takings for a 70-year old leading man playing a secret agent.

Spy Hard(1996) VHS
Leslie Nielsen is Dick Steele, Agent WD-40, a famous spy called out of retirement to stop his former nemesis, General Rancor (Andy Griffith), from taking over the world. During his madcap mission, Steele encounters gorgeous Russian agent Nicollette Sheridan, a speeding bus, Dr. Joyce Brothers and a title tune by "Weird Al" Yankovic. With Charles Durning, Marcia Gay Harden. 81 min.
Spy Hard [DVD](1996) DVD

The Naked Gun: From The Files Of Police Squad!(1988) VHS
The cult favorite TV comedy gets transferred to the big screen. Leslie Nielsen stars as relentlessly dizzy detective Frank Drebin, out to stop sinister Ricardo Montalban from having Queen Elizabeth II assassinated. With Priscilla Presley, O.J. Simpson and George Kennedy. 83 min.
Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell Of Fear(1991) VHS
Look out, lawbreakers! Lawman Leslie Nielsen is back to stop villainous business mogul Robert Goulet from making a shambles of America's energy policy (shouldn't be too hard!) for his own evil gain. Second hilarious entry in the satirical film series also stars Priscilla Presley, George Kennedy, O.J. Simpson. 85 min.
Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult(1994) VHS
A retired Leslie Nielsen is pulled back onto the force when a terrorist threatens to bomb the Academy Awards show. The laughs are non-stop, as Nielsen bumbles his way in and out of trouble, while filmmakers "ZAZ" and company spoof "The Untouchables," "White Heat" and "Thelma and Louise." With George Kennedy, Priscilla Presley, Fred Ward, O.J. Simpson and Anna Nicole Smith. 83 min.
The Naked Gun DVD Gift Set [DVD] DVD
"All three 'Naked Gun' comedies with Leslie Nielsen are now available together in one boxed set? Surely you can't be serious!"