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Top Secret!

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 10, age appropriate for kids over 12; suggested age 11.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Silly spy spoof delivers near-nonstop stream of laughs.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 11–12

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    The sides are clearly drawn in this spy spoof: the Nazis are the bad guys and the daring resistance fighters are the good guys. There's nothing subtle going on here.

  • Violence:

    A fair bit of slapstick violence, including battle scenes that are obviously fake and played for laughs instead of excitement.

  • Sex:

    No sex or nudity but plenty of sexual references disguised as silly jokes and sight gags, some less subtle than others.

  • Language:

    Some mildly suggestive innuendo, but no profanity.

  • Consumerism:

    Dated references to commercial products of the 1980s.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Some social drinking.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Top Secret!

Parents need to know that the puns, one-liners, quips, and sight gags come fast and furious in this silly spy spoof from the same team that created the Airplane! films. Some of the material in the 1984 film is dated today, but most of the jokes hold up. Val Kilmer is impressive in this early role, singing, dancing, and demonstrating excellent comic timing. There are some off-color remarks and several scenes that have sexual images, though they are more ridiculous than erotic.

Read our full review by Will Wade

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about parody. Many of the jokes in this film are funny because of their sly references to other films. Is it possible to enjoy this movie without an understanding of pop culture and the common elements, and tired clichés, of World War II action movies? How has this genre evolved since this movie was released? Can you spot this formula at work in other, more recent parodies? Which ones pull it off well, and which ones fail to deliver?
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