Spy Hard

Movie review by Alistair Lawrence, Common Sense Media
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Common Sense says

age 13+

Spoof action movie has slapstick violence, innuendo.

PG-13 1996 81 minutes
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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Spy Hard is an action movie parody starring Leslie Nielsen that spoofs classic films and iconic moments in cinema, and has slapstick violence and frequent innuendo. Nelson plays Dick Steele, codename Agent WD-40, who is tasked with stopping megalomaniac General Rancor (Andy Griffith) from destroying the planet. Steele is a bumbling fool often aided by female love interests and colleagues, although they are mostly sidelined. Some of the comedy also plays to damaging stereotypes, such as Asian characters fighting using martial arts and Steele pretending to be different ethnicities for undercover purposes. Though the violence is slapstick, some set pieces involve over-the-top dismemberment and death. But no realistic blood or gore is shown. Along with lots of innuendo, there are a couple of suggested sex scenes, but the camera cuts away before any nudity or intercourse is shown. Alcohol and cigarettes do feature, usually when they are part of a joke.

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What's the Story?

SPY HARD follows agent Dick Steele (Leslie Nielsen) as he teams up with a new partner and attempts to save the world from the evil megalomaniac General Rancor (Andy Griffith).

Is It Any Good?

This spy parody from 1996 feels very much of its time. Spy Hard's comedic take on the cliches of early Mission: Impossible and James Bond installments do highlight some of the flaws that have since been addressed in later movies of those franchises. Yet it doesn't appear to be self-aware enough to recognize that its own female characters are still under-utilized and sidelined. This, coupled with multiple scenes that parody Sister Act, Home Alone, and Pulp Fiction, which slows its second half, might make it a slightly confusing watch for anyone who hasn't done their 1990s cinematic homework.

Nielsen does a reliable job as agent Dick Steele, burning through pages of throwaway jokes with his famous deadpan delivery. But anyone who's seen his own iconic roles in Airplane!, Police Squad, and the Naked Gun trilogy is unlikely to view this as much more than a career footnote. Two of the movie's writers, Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, penned Scary Movie (released the same year) and a succession of forgettable, similar titles. Sometimes it really is best to stick with the classics.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the violence in Spy Hard. Was it funny? If so, why? Did the humor change its impact?

  • Discuss the film's use of sex. Was it affectionate? Respectful? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.

  • Talk about the film's humor. How many movie references did you spot in the movie? What makes a good spoof movie?

Movie Details

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