Common Sense Media Review
By Will Wade, based on child development research. How do we rate?
age 12+
Silly spy spoof delivers near-nonstop stream of laughs.
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Parents Need to Know
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.
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
some
No sex or nudity but plenty of sexual references disguised as silly jokes and sight gags, some less subtle than others.
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Violence & Scariness
some
A fair bit of slapstick violence, including battle scenes that are obviously fake and played for laughs instead of excitement.
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Products & Purchases
none
Dated references to commercial products of the 1980s.
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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
none
Some social drinking.
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Language
none
Some mildly suggestive innuendo, but no profanity.
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Positive Messages
none
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.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Top Secret!
- Parents say (9)
- Kids say (2)
age 14+
Based on 9 parent reviews
OrlandoAlex Adult
March 24, 2021
age 17+
Shocked this got a PG rating... it's tame for adults, but definitely not a kids' movie
There's an over-reliance on sex jokes in this movie. That alone should mean it's at least a PG-13 rating. How it managed to get just a "PG" is beyond me. There are references to orgasms, sex toys, a romantic couple literally having sex in a movie theater (bare female legs in the air, man gyrating), thinly veiled fellatio... I just can't fathom the rating.This is coming from someone who loves the Zucker movies, and have watched them repeatedly over the years. The comedy is great, it's just a mistake to show to a kid.
JoysMom Parent of 9, 12, 15 and 17-year-old
July 6, 2022
age 16+
Yikes, I forgot how dirty this movie is!!!!!
Funny for older teens and adults but SO NOT FOR KIDS!!! Extreme vulgarity, suggestiveness, blatant "adult" situations...NOT for children. I'm shocked at the PG rating, should be R. Very funny moments, but for older kids for sure.
See all 9 parent reviews
What's the Story?
American teen idol Nick Rivers (Val Kilmer) is invited to perform at a cultural festival in Germany, unaware that the event is a diversion, and the dastardly Nazi organizers are secretly planning a surprise attack in this laugh-a-minute parody of World War II action flicks. After he arrives, Rivers meets a beautiful woman (Lucy Gutteridge), gets thrown into jail, discovers the top secret plot, and becomes involved with a band of daring resistance fighters who are trying to rescue an imprisoned scientist.
Is It Any Good?
Our review:
Parents say (9):
Kids say (2):
If the story sounds like a complicated mish-mash of plot threads, well, that's the point. The narrative structure in TOP SECRET! is really just a framework for the non-stop jokes. Yes, some of the lines are stinkers, and some must have seemed funnier in the 1980s than they do today. But there are so many jokes, puns, sly references, sight gags, and recurring bits that two or three strike home for every one that misses the mark.
The film was directed by David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker, the same genius team that created this spoof genre with their earlier Airplane! movies. This model has been used over and over again, sometimes effectively (the first Scary Movie stands out) and sometimes not (hopefully nobody can Remember the Spartans). Some of the more recent entries in the field seem tired, trying to wring jokes out of obvious references to other pop culture touchstones, but early efforts like Top Secret! had strong scripts and still deliver plenty of laughs. A young Val Kilmer shines, singing, dancing, and delivering one ridiculous line after another with a completely straight face. And look for Omar Sharif in a small role as a nearly-indestructible secret agent.
Talk to Your Kids 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?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 8, 1984
- On DVD or streaming : July 16, 2002
- Cast : Lucy Gutteridge, Omar Sharif, Val Kilmer
- Directors : David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams
- Studio : Paramount Pictures
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Adventures
- Run time : 90 minutes
- MPAA rating : PG
- Last updated : September 13, 2024
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