#98 - "Spies Like Us" (1985) with Laramy Wells from "Moving Panels" Podcast

Attendees: Laramy Wells ("Moving Panels"), Timothy Williams

This transcript of the full unedited recording was computer generated and might contain errors. 

Timothy Williams: Set against heightened cold wert my sh. Set against the backdrop of heightened Cold War tensions this 80s flick introduces us to two bumbling government employees, unwittingly thrust in the world of international espionage. Tasked with a decoin mission to distract attention from a genuine covert operation the duo becomes entangled in a web of conspiracies encounters with KGB agents and a journey that takes them from the treacherous terrains of Afghanistan to The Frigid Landscapes of the Soviet Union.

Timothy Williams: It not only capitalizes on the chemistry between his lead actors, but also serves as a parody of spy movie the spy movie tropes prevalent in the 80s and cleverly satirized the political climate of its time it offered a light-hearted take on the Cold War anxieties that grip the World by infusing humor into the serious business of Espionage the film manages to Lampoon both political posturing and the conventions of the Spy genre itself. start studying for the foreign exam. So start studying for the Ford service exam pull out your book on colloquial Russian and meet us at the ace tomato company as Laramy Wells and I discuss Spies Like Us from 1985 on this episode of the 80s flick flashback podcast.

Timothy Williams: Welcome in everybody. So glad to have you let me be the first to say happy New Year. And new season of the podcast is the first episode of 2024 and the first episode of Season 8. It's hard to believe that I'm in the eighth season already and we're coming up on episode 100 which is two episodes away. So I'm really excited about that so big exciting news coming about that, but welcome to everybody so glad to have you I want to take a minute. Just thank our International listeners those that are in the United Kingdom Brazil, Canada, Australia, Germany, Austrian France. I've seen by my statistics that you are at my analytics that you guys are listening and I just want to say thank you so much for listening to the podcast. Please consider do so and send us a message on social media and let us know exactly where you're listening from. That'd be really cool to find out.

Timothy Williams: But let's get on with today's show back in the saddle for most of my season premieres as usual, but always glad to have Mr. Laramy Wells back on the podcast from moving panels podcast.

Moving Panels: I'm good.

Timothy Williams: How you doing Laramy?

Moving Panels: I'm wonderful doctor.

Timothy Williams: Dr. And doctor

Moving Panels: and doctor had to fit it in somewhere.

Timothy Williams: yeah that's one of the best we're gonna talk about that a favorite scenes. I think because that's one that I really enjoy. So, let's Jump Right In. When did you see Spies Like Us for the very first time.

Moving Panels: I do not. Remember I really don't. I'm sure it was on TV because most of these movies were for me.

Timothy Williams: he right

Moving Panels: So I'm pretty sure it was on TV, but I cannot remember when.

Timothy Williams: Yeah, I can't remember. There's a vague memory that I saw this in the theater. But I remember it more of being on VHS or on cable a lot. So I know I've seen it a million times and even re watching it today so much of it. I remembered and was saying some of the lines before they set them because I remembered them. But if I saw this in the theater, I probably saw it like a dollar theater where it had been out for a while. It wasn't one that I saw when I first came out but yeah.

00:05:00

Moving Panels: Man, I miss dollar theaters.

Timothy Williams: When did you last see it before we watching it for the podcast?

Moving Panels: It's been a good long while although you as watching it. I remembered so much of it and…

Timothy Williams: Yeah.

Moving Panels: But yeah, that's another thing. I cannot remember how long it's been so that's how long it's been.

Timothy Williams: Yeah, I think I was talking to Laramie before we started recording that it was on one of the streaming services probably two or three maybe four or five years ago I guess in the last five years and I remember watching it then because I had not seen it in so long and really enjoying in and remembering how much I liked it as a kid, but it's not one that you really see that people talk about that much in the 80s. I mean, of course you got two big stars Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd, but they have other I guess you'd say bigger movies around that time Ghostbusters Fletch. We just did Trading Places the National Lampoon Vacation movies, which I didn't plan it that way when I put this as the season premiere, but I just thought about it when I was thinking about my notes. I just did Dan Aykroyd and trading places in December and then I followed up by replay of Christmas Vacation whichever Chase.

Moving Panels: Yeah.

Timothy Williams: So why not do the movie that they're both in together right after that.

Moving Panels: There you go. works

Timothy Williams: I mean, it makes perfect sense even though I didn't do it on purpose.

Timothy Williams: so Let's jump into the story origin and pre-production. Shall we? All right.

Moving Panels: we shall

Timothy Williams: Yeah, there wasn't a whole lot on this one. the Wikipedia page had zero pre-production notes. So I had to do a little bit of digging so it's kind of short but I think it's still gives us a little bit of insight. So Dan Aykroyd had actually been working on the script for Spies Like Us for years initially. He had envisioned the movie as another chance to team up with this SNL co-star John Belushi, but after blue she passed away the script was Rewritten for Aykroyd and Richard Pryor, but the studio didn't like it. So later Chevy Chase became available after abandoning his own Spa themed project. Once he joined the project Warner Brothers was interested in the film finally got the green light to begin production without a completed final draft of the script. Dan Aykroyd said he took this first opportunity as a screenwriter very seriously. He worked with Dave Thomas and SCTV Alum to develop the story.

Moving Panels: Not the Wendy's founder.

Timothy Williams: No, not that Dave Thomas the other day acronym Thomas actually took a road trip to Jamaica to get inspiration for the script. They went to Ian Fleming's house the golden eye Plantation…

Moving Panels: Who?

Timothy Williams: where he wrote the James Bond novels Aykroyd said, the script was a lot of great ideas, but it was a little formless and needed work. Akroid was a great originator, but he enjoyed the collaborative process. He said he liked that Boiler Room atmosphere which he attributed to working as a writer and performer on Saturday Night Live Aykroyd enjoyed riding. It was extremely passionate about the rusky fighting secret agent stuff in the movie. But the script was later Polished by Logan's and Babalu Mandel who were best known at that time for their hit comedy Splash and I know they've done some sitcom work as well. I think that's kind of how they got into the screenwriting so when I saw their name pop up with opening credits, I was like, yeah that makes sense because some of the lunacy and some of the bits feel very

Timothy Williams: seem to fit their writing style.

Moving Panels: Yeah, when you said that Chevy Chase abandoned not do you know what the other spy?

Timothy Williams: It didn't say.

Moving Panels: Wasn't Foul Play. That wasn't he a spy. It's been so long.

Timothy Williams: It's been a…

Moving Panels: So I've seen that one. And I know that's the not an 80s movies.

Timothy Williams: Yeah, yeah. So yeah, I don't but not like this one is a spy movie. I think his was A little bit closer to what this one eventually became. I don't know what the original script was like, but he was obviously trying to develop something else more in the Soviet Union spy, where Cold War type Espionage type of movie I guess…

Moving Panels: Yeah.

Timothy Williams: but yeah, it didn't give a title. It just said it was an abandoned project that he had been working on trying to get made but wasn't getting any bites on it.

Moving Panels: Okay.

Timothy Williams: so that's all I got for a storage in a problem story origin and pre-production, but

Timothy Williams: It seems to be. Watching it. You can tell it is a bunch of ideas kind of thrown together with a very loose plot.

Moving Panels: Definitely some scenes you.

Timothy Williams: And I know it's an homage to the old, Bob Hope Road to movies and…

Moving Panels: Row two movies. Yeah.

Timothy Williams: even a little bit of Abbott and Costello esque type of bits and stuff which I like because I mean I grew up on those older movies.

00:10:00

Moving Panels: Yeah. I love the road to movies.

Timothy Williams: So I appreciated those references and thought they were really funny so Yes,…

Moving Panels: and the random Cameo by Bob Hope

Timothy Williams: Bob Yeah, which was great. All right, we'll talk about casting so we're not gonna talk about Chevy Chase or Dan Aykroyd because we've covered Chevy Chase multiple times and Danica where we've covered before as well. So the first on the list past them or anything you want to say about Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd in the movie.

Moving Panels: No, I'm kind of curious as to what else you might bring up considering that. all the different people that was supposed to be in this with Dan Aykroyd because

Timothy Williams: Mm-hmm

Moving Panels: I don't know if it was vy Just deciding to do his own stuff or what because it was very much a Chevy Chase part. Yeah.

Timothy Williams: Yeah. yeah. Yeah, I'm sure when she came on board. They definitely shaped the script to more of his comedy style. Of course, they let him add the bunch of a bunch as well, which is very evident, which accurate is used to…

Moving Panels: Yeah.

Timothy Williams: because he's worked with Bill Murray who's lib a lot too. So that wasn't a big change for him. I think it's interesting. This is the only movie they did together. I mean I thought they were pretty decent as a combo. Of course not the same as him and Belushi. Maybe but I don't know…

Moving Panels: Yeah.

Timothy Williams: if he'd ever get another, partner like he had with Belushi, but he played such a different character in those movies. Yeah.

Moving Panels: Yeah would have been totally different with Belushi I was about to say Acro would be more the straight man, but he was kind of more the straight man in this one.

Timothy Williams: mmm Yeah, it's funny because watching was Aykroyd is kind of playing the same character. He is in Ghostbusters. you…

Moving Panels: Yeah.

Timothy Williams: really smart knows all the facts and then Chevy Chase is basically playing Fletch because he's just making it up as he goes along and…

Moving Panels: definitely. Yeah.

Timothy Williams: all the one-liners and stuff. Which I guess is why it works. So both of those characters to kind of putting those two together. Makes it work. So we'll talk about Donna Dixon as Karen Boyer Dixon actually became A Dixon actually began her career as a model and competed in both Miss USA 1976 and this world USA 1977 on television. She star with Tom Hanks in the early 1980s Sitcom Bosom Buddies. Hey months after they worked together in the film Dr. Detroit and…

Moving Panels: Hey.

Timothy Williams: 83 Dixon and actor Dan Aykroyd married. They later started together. In other films like Twilight Zone The Movie although they did not share any screens. They did not share any scenes together and the couch trip in 1988 Dixon and Aykroyd have three daughters the couple announced in April 2022. They were separating after 39 years of marriage, but would remain legally married.

Moving Panels: Wow, I don't think I knew that they were married.

Timothy Williams: I know they were married because I remember maybe not when it came out but years later. It became a discussion about how it was funny that. Dan acros real life wife was the one that ends up with Chevy Chase in the movie and Aykroyd is actually with somebody else at the end. So, how did he feel about having his wife be the love interest of his co-star instead of him but

Moving Panels: Of course. She was the dream girl in Wayne's World. That's what

Timothy Williams: Yes, she was yeah. Yeah. I had that. I'm trying to scale down some of my cast stuff to make the episodes a little shorter if I can. So next on the list. We've got proof Bruce Davidson as His name is Ruby. That's what says maybe think about your daughter all of a sudden.

Timothy Williams: Bruce Davidson, I recognized him immediately due to his good looks and likeability. He was predominantly cast as a mature morally responsible dad or a politician some of his most popular films include six degrees Yeah,…

Moving Panels: the next man

Timothy Williams: Six Degrees of Separation and 93 with Will Smith the family Adventure film far from home The Adventures of yellow dog in 1995. And as you mentioned the box office X-men too in 2000 and it's in the role of Senator Kelly so politician

Moving Panels: Yeah, I also have to mention. He's the original Willard. I'm a big fan of that movie.

Timothy Williams: Yes. Yes.

Moving Panels: So Yep.

Timothy Williams: We talked about Willard as Yeah. Which was remade with the creepy guy from Back to the Future. Yeah.

Moving Panels: Christian Glover, yep I'm a fan of that one too. that's probably the one…

Timothy Williams: Okay.

Moving Panels: if you don't count Back to the Future as a Christmas Glover movie. Yeah, Willard is probably my favorite Crispin Glover movie.

Timothy Williams: Right because it's really not yeah.

Moving Panels: But again, I'm a horror guy as well. So

Timothy Williams: Yeah. yeah, that's up your alley for sure.

Moving Panels: yeah.

Timothy Williams: All right. So then we've got the other politician Keys played by William Prince. He was a character actor who's popular that it was due to hundreds of appearances and soap operas. He was eventually cast in another world soap opera at the edge of night soap opera search for tomorrow soap opera as well as a world apart another soap opera.

00:15:00

Moving Panels: Never heard of any of those. Yeah.

Timothy Williams: So that's really? yeah. I remember another the edge of night and search for tomorrow a world apart. I do not remember. was one noteworthy credit was that he was part of the continuing cast of the first hour-long television drama series called The Mask in 1954. So by the seventies and…

Moving Panels: Okay.

Timothy Williams: ADC basically appeared in several television miniseries and TV movies, so he didn't look that familiar to me, but I thought I'd give him another great character Bernie Casey as Colonel rhombus kind of a Extended Cameo more or less for this movie. But of course Casey began his acting career in the film guns of The Magnificent Seven a sequel to The Magnificent Seven.

Moving Panels: Yeah.

Timothy Williams: He then played opposite fellow former in NFL star Jim Brown and the crime dramas tick and black gun from there. He moved between performances on television and the big screen such as playing team captain for the Chicago Bears in the TV film Brian song in 1979. He starred as Woodward Mike Harris and the NBC television series Harrison company, which was the first weekly American TV drama series centered on a black family. And 81 he played a detective opposite Burt Reynolds and Sharky's Machine, which was also directed by Reynolds. And then of course, I remember most from playing a version of himself and other football players turned actors and Keenan Ivory Wayans 1988 comedic film. I'm gonna get you sucka so

Moving Panels: Come on, he was Bill and Ted's teacher in.

Timothy Williams: Yes. But yeah,…

Moving Panels: Yeah, villain says Excellent Adventure.

Timothy Williams: that was my next note. He also played High School history teacher Mr. Ryan and…

Moving Panels: Yeah. That's…

Timothy Williams: Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure release date night. So

Moving Panels: what I immediately recognized him from.

Timothy Williams: but he's so funny this one. I love it when they come and they're like we had a good time but we want to go home now and he's like guys I really don't have to kill you this early.

Moving Panels: Yeah.

Timothy Williams: Such a great role. I just got a few more here. So Steve Forrest as general slime. Of course, he was a kind of a Robert Stack, character or…

Moving Panels: Yeah.

Timothy Williams: that look but he began his screen career as a small part contract player with MGM in 1942. He enlisted in the US Army Rose to the rank of Sergeant and saw action at the Battle of the Bulge following his demobilization. He visited his brother who was an actor in Hollywood and decided that acting wasn't a bad way to make a living having already done some work as a movie extra from the mid 50s the six foot three actor making much Demand on TV beginning with classic early Anthology and western series inters first with occasional appearances on the big screen. notably the longest day in 1962. And as Joan Crawford's lover slash attorney and Mommy Dearest 1981. in addition Yeah.

Moving Panels: Yep, that's what I recognized from.

Timothy Williams: No wire hangers, that's all I remember from that movie. But my sister used to watch it over and over again. When I was a kid in addition to numerous guest rolls. He was regularly featured in series like Gunsmoke Dallas and Murder She Wrote his starring role as the stoic tough Lieutenant Dan Hondo Harrelson in the short lived ABC police drama series SWAT in 1975 is probably his best to remember girl.

Moving Panels: Okay.

Timothy Williams: Yeah.

Timothy Williams: And then the last one that I'm gonna mention only because she did so much more after this movie came out than what you really know are for in this is Vanessa Angel who's…

Moving Panels: Yes.

Timothy Williams: who is listed as one of the Russian rocket crew members. She doesn't even have a name in the movie. But British born Vanessa Angel began her career at age 14 as a model when she was discovered by world renowned agent Eileen Ford. She gained much life experience by traveling the world relocating to New York and appearing on many magazine covers including Vogue and Cosmopolitan her transition from modeling to acting came in 1985 when she was chosen by director John Landis for her small role in this movie after gaining some attention from the role. She became a member of the actor studio in New York in 1987 this led to roles and films like King of New York in 1990 Kingpin 1996 Kissing a Fool in 199 In addition or tour film work Angel starred in the hit series Weird Science on the USA Network,

Moving Panels: Weird Science, Lisa Yes.

Timothy Williams: which I know why you were excited.

Moving Panels: I don't care about any of that other stuff. I didn't even like her in Kingpin,…

Timothy Williams: right Yeah, yeah.

Moving Panels: but Yes, she is Lisa and Weird Science. the genie

Timothy Williams: mmm

Timothy Williams: So as we mentioned the film is an homage to the famous Road film series, which start Bob Hope and Bing Crosby. Of course, hope makes a cameo in one scene other cameos in the film include many directors. I like Terry Gillum Sam Ramey Martin breast and Joel Cohen. You also see musician BB King and visual effects Pioneer Ray harryhausen.

00:20:00

Moving Panels: At the BB King Cameo just seems so Random.

Timothy Williams: it's very random. most of the cameos are kind of random.

Moving Panels: Yeah, I don't know Terry Gilliam which I love how you mentioned the director and not a member of Monty Python,…

Timothy Williams: Right, right.

Moving Panels: but I don't know his doesn't seem as random to me. it does kind of maybe feel a little bit more like a cameo, but I guess it's just…

Timothy Williams: mmm

Moving Panels: because of BB King's stature and…

Timothy Williams: he just Had a place.

Moving Panels: all he just feels so out of place.

Timothy Williams: Yeah, I agree. And of course, I forgot to mention of course Frank Oz as the test. a proctor or whatever

Moving Panels: Yeah.

Timothy Williams: which he's got, he always makes an appearance in a John Landis moving the course. He was in trading places, which talked about last month. but always good to spread that that's one of the First movies. Because I think at the end it showed that was Frank Oz and there was the first time I realized what Kermit the Frog's voice that was the first time I knew who would Frank Oz actually looked like as a kid.

Timothy Williams: He's not Kermit. Are you sure?

Moving Panels: No, yes.

Timothy Williams: Jim,…

Timothy Williams: Henson was permit. right

Moving Panels: Jim Henson was Kermit at the time.

Moving Panels: No Frank ozs Miss Piggy.

Timothy Williams: There we…

Moving Panels: And…

Moving Panels: Fozzy and…

Timothy Williams: Okay, yeah. Any others?

Moving Panels: then many others. But yeah.

Timothy Williams: Yeah, okay. Yeah.

Moving Panels: and Yoda, I mean

Timothy Williams: Yes, of course. yeah. I'm not forget that for So, all right anybody else in the cast that you might want to bring up It's really just a Aykroyd and Chase movie

Moving Panels: Yeah, I think you hit them. All I was gonna make sure you mentioned Vanessa Angel. That was the one I was just holding on to going as long as he mentions that one. I think he has hit them all.

Timothy Williams: Alright. …

Moving Panels: So yeah.

Timothy Williams: let's move into Is there an iconic scene when someone mentions Spies Like Us to you, what's the first scene that you think of? Doctor, yeah.

Moving Panels: the doctor

Moving Panels: if we covered everybody or whatever it was these

Timothy Williams: Yeah. I usually think of them walking in the snow. I mean, it's not like a major scene, but I guess that's also because it's the cover of the VHS and…

Moving Panels: this cover. Yeah.

Timothy Williams: the movie but yeah the doctor saying for sure.

Timothy Williams: the test scene always think about that's by far one of my favorite scenes.

Moving Panels: Yeah.

Timothy Williams: what's got to my favorite scenes? And what you got any favorites? besides doctor

Moving Panels: But the test scene is probably one of my favorites. I also like after the force test when they walk down the hall and…

Timothy Williams: Yeah, yeah.

Moving Panels: they've got The faces. Yeah.

Timothy Williams: Their faces are all flattened out. want to get some coffee. Yeah, sounds good.

Moving Panels: Yeah. that's a good one for me, too. I don't know. there's a lot but yeah, that's probably just to stick with make it short and sweet. Those are probably the ones that I like the most. would be those.

Timothy Williams: Yeah. Yeah, I wrote down a couple of lines. So the test scene. I love Chevy Chase. I'm late. I had to attend the reading of will I had to say to the very end and I found out I received nothing. Brookmar, it's like just the edge of the add-on and…

Moving Panels: Yeah. Berkmeier, yeah.

Timothy Williams: I broke more which you can tell the hand is completely fake as he's walking in.

Moving Panels: and then

Timothy Williams: It just looks so funny.

Moving Panels: Yeah, and then he hands Frank Oz his wallet if you go to my wallet,…

Timothy Williams: Yeah, there's a thousand.

Moving Panels: there's a thousand dollar and…

Moving Panels: or maybe it doesn't.

Timothy Williams: Yeah.

Timothy Williams: Classic Chevy Chase. But yeah, there's a few things in it that I noticed this time maybe now because of watching airplane movies in the Jerry Zucker things. You kind of look this has that kind of almost a parody but it doesn't full on going to parody mode but it has moments of that but when Dan aykroyd's supervisor yes is going back to go down to the basement above the door.

Moving Panels: Yeah.

Timothy Williams: It actually says it's two subs in front of basement. it's not the sub basement. Of the building,…

Moving Panels: Yeah.

Timothy Williams: which I thought was interesting to and then I noticed all the posters in the Russian cabin. There's a Dr. Zhivago poster and a Reds poster like all American movies about you…

Moving Panels: I didn't even notice that.

Timothy Williams: American movies about Russians and Americans falling in love, which I thought was funny. How did you not see that? there's one scene where they're right in front of the Dr. Zhivago poster. I think there's another poster in there too. Those are the two that I remember.

Moving Panels: And just didn't stand out to me.

Timothy Williams: But the doctor scene of course is one of my favorites.

00:25:00

Timothy Williams: the beginning of the movie has those good scenes full-on scenes. Once they kind of get on the road everything moves by so quickly. It's more just about Just Landing jokes and one-liners and kind of someone trying to move the story forward. So there's not a whole lot at the back end. that stands out to me as a really funny scene necessarily

Moving Panels: Yeah. I'm trying to.

Timothy Williams: Unless you can think of one. Which besides I'm playing Trivial Pursuit at the very end their negotiations.

Moving Panels: Just the random.

Timothy Williams: They had to reshoot the ending because for some reason someone thought I was a good idea to have the world explode at the end of the movie and of course test audiences didn't like it. So they had to go back and…

Moving Panels: Gee, I wonder why.

Timothy Williams: a new reshoot a happy ending. So that's why that scene of A Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd like hugging at the end after the missile goes the different direction. You can clearly see they're standing in front of us a backdrop.

Moving Panels: yeah.

Timothy Williams: and so in a studio so

Timothy Williams: yeah, yeah.

Moving Panels: And then you mind if we use your tent.

Timothy Williams: right

Timothy Williams: so another funny line is the press conference to and I always like when Chevy Chase does cutting out of the phones going out or the microphones going out.

Moving Panels: Yeah.

Timothy Williams: But before that they asked in the question. And it's such a great response for a political question. of course the request for subsidies was not Paraguay in and of itself as if the United States government would never have if our president had not and as far as I know that's the way it always will be is that clear?

Timothy Williams: And just that dead pan Chevy Chase delivery just makes it even better.

Moving Panels: Yeah.

Timothy Williams: Man, any other scenes you want to talk about?

Moving Panels: No, I mean I did like the operation and…

Timothy Williams: Yes, yes.

Moving Panels: just kind of the timing between the two that when Dan Aykroyd would duck down Chevy would Lean Forward.

Timothy Williams: Yes, right, And then when he's going to meet the incision and he looks to the three older doctors there no sense.

Moving Panels: the three dot which make no sense. Yeah.

Timothy Williams: Right because I think there had been a deleted scene. There are some scene that sets that up but going back to the old, road to movies. It's just that one of those kind of gags you would see and…

Moving Panels: Yeah.

Timothy Williams: those movies that they just kind of put in there.

Moving Panels: It's just like when they land in the crate box and…

Timothy Williams: Yeah.

Moving Panels: it opens up and they're sitting there and I'm like the way that thing landed there's no way they would still just be relaxed sitting there like that.

Timothy Williams: Yeah.

Moving Panels: yeah, but I mean you can't put A lot of logic to a movie like this because it really is just one of those again like you said slapstick at least as close to slapstick as it could get.

Timothy Williams: yeah, yeah. Chevy doesn't do as much physical comedy in this as he does. In other ones, he's not a lot of prat Falls and stuff. I do love the scene where they throw the Russian throws out the grenade and he catch what's this for you don't want to just stands up and casually throws it back in the window just his Near do well, demeanor is always so funny to me in those kind of situations. It's funny.

Moving Panels: Yeah.

Moving Panels: also didn't quite follow The logic and again, like I said, you can't put too much logic in this. Of I don't know the character's names…

Timothy Williams: enough

Moving Panels: but the woman and the other man being the original agents.

Timothy Williams: Yes.

Moving Panels: And we're going this this doesn't make sense. But …

Timothy Williams: mmm

Moving Panels: How and why it wasn't the whole point of putting them in different locations. But how did they end up in the same location? and then

Timothy Williams: And I'm just assuming that it's only by sheer luck or coincidence like they didn't expect. the decoys to even make it that far like they expected them to…

Moving Panels: yeah, yeah.

Timothy Williams: which still doesn't make sense because you kind of want them to be somewhat successful because if they get killed off immediately then that gives time for them to catch up with the real operatives. So Right, right.

Moving Panels: You figured they had to last a little bit longer. to be the actual decoys they wanted them to be but

Timothy Williams: Mm-hmm

Moving Panels: Yeah, there's just a lot of it even the launch of the rocket. And then okay, they did it to try out this. weird laser thing But the laser didn't work.

Timothy Williams: Mm-hmm

Moving Panels: But then it almost feels like the military guys. Met forget meant yet knew it wasn't gonna work…

Timothy Williams: You wasn't gonna work. right Mm-

Moving Panels: because they wanted to start World War 3. that whole convoluted thing.

00:30:00

Timothy Williams: Yeah.

Moving Panels: Didn't make a lot of sense. why would you go through all that trouble to launch a rocket from Russia? Just to try out.

Timothy Williams: Mm-hmm

Moving Panels: a laser so Yeah.

Timothy Williams: right

Timothy Williams: It's a very Lucy.

Moving Panels: yeah.

Timothy Williams: Or loose plot very thin plot line. Because yeah,…

Moving Panels: yeah.

Timothy Williams: because even they're going back when they're in the Jeep and they show up in the Afghan Afghan, it's tribe or whatever like we're Americans and they get hung upside down. I mean the doctors are literally in the Hut next to them they didn't see them when they came in. they didn't ask them. Are you a doctor? I know it's done for comedy and that's really the only reason they do it to be funny, but it doesn't really make any sense for them to all of a sudden.

Moving Panels: No.

Timothy Williams: Wait a minute. wait, those are yes for doctors,

Moving Panels: Also for Dan Aykroyd to slightly lose his ability to speak Russian when they run across the Russian people guarding the rocket. she's yelling at them and…

Timothy Williams: Right, right.

Moving Panels: he can't quite put together what she's saying. That's like…

Timothy Williams: Mm-hmm

Moving Panels: but you've spoke perfect Russian and…

Timothy Williams: Yeah.

Moving Panels: then later when you're handed the papers, which I assume. I don't know why he's the one having to decode. is it being sent in a code? Or I don't know that all got confusing too,…

Timothy Williams: Mm-hmm

Moving Panels: but then he speaks perfect Russian later when they're explaining everything to him when they wake back up and…

Timothy Williams: right

Moving Panels: the rocket and inconsistent there.

Timothy Williams: yeah, I do love at the beginning when you first meet Dan Edwards character that he broke the code with the little decodering out of the Lucky Charms box, which I always thought that was funny

Moving Panels: Yeah.

Timothy Williams: Alright, let's talk about some scenes and trivia, maybe some things that will. spoke our memory or spark a memory So the ace tomato company is most likely a referenced to United Fruit. Chiquita bananas a company widely known to have been involved with the CIA in the 1950s. The connection is subtly underlined with the name of the General's migs one Henry miggs and American business magnet operating in South America was the uncle of one of the founders of what would become United Fruit seems like a stretch but There it is.

Moving Panels: There you go.

Timothy Williams: Another part, I love the movie the movie that fits Hume is watching while at his desk. The state department is the musical. She's working her way through college from 1952 starring, Virginia Mayo Gene Nelson, and then President Ronald Reagan. then when this week was made not when the original movie was made,…

Moving Panels: there

Timothy Williams: but I do love as you notice in the credits. They have Ronald Reagan as one of the top credits as the President of the United States, so he's granted in the movie.

Moving Panels: They definitely should.

Timothy Williams: I thought that was funny, because at the time of course Ronald Reagan being the president those of us that were young didn't know him as the actor back then so to see the president in a singing Musical. Was quite comical.

Timothy Williams: Okay, nothing dad.

Moving Panels: I don't think I've ever seen a Ronald Reagan movie. So I know of them, but

Timothy Williams: I don't think I have either so. mmm

Timothy Williams: All let's see. So the novelization by Gordon McGill reveals the scene in which and it fits Hume hosts a brief press conference was originally placed immediately after his introductory scene in the office and before his actual lunch date with Alice his colleague sitting at the opposite desk Walter Jurgens was scheduled to host the conference, but it's Hume took over to do him a favor this explains. Why the film she's working. Through college which fitsume was watching in the earlier scene can still be seen playing on one of the monitors during the press conference. He also mentions having a lunch date indicating the scene takes place before the one with Alice. Even though the movie it's after so a little continuity.

Moving Panels: Yeah, it does feel a little random that all of a sudden he's having the press conference.

Timothy Williams: Yeah, and once again, it seemed like just a scene for him to be funny like it was just there to show him.

Moving Panels: Yeah.

Timothy Williams: Doing with being Chevy Chase exactly.

Moving Panels: being Chevy Chase

Timothy Williams: So as a guest on the Chevy Chase show in 1993, Dan Aykroyd tells a story about him and Chevy being pursued by a truck full of paratroopers while on location in Morocco. Akroid had taken a snapshot of the military unit who then pursued them at high speeds back to their hotel where they have vaded detection by abandoning their Jeep and hiding inside a van with curtains in the windows. the next day as a prank Aykroyd told John Landis that Chavez Chase had been arrested and should expect them to be coming for him next so

00:35:00

Moving Panels: It's interesting.

Timothy Williams: thought that was funny funny story. Yeah.

Moving Panels: Like why?

Timothy Williams: Because they're one to be fine.

Moving Panels: Okay.

Timothy Williams: Even John Landis on edge. I'm sure not that he had had enough. moments of fear on a set but we won't go into that story as we've referenced it many times. I have to go back and see how many John Landis movies I've covered so far. Coming to America Trading Places this one

Timothy Williams: those are three that comes off my head. This is the part where me Google's.

Moving Panels: Yep, this is where I'm looking up John Landis movies. Because I don't know either.

Moving Panels: Let's see we got stupid ad. alright As a director, I'm assuming all…

Timothy Williams: Yes.

Moving Panels: Let's go into the 80s here. All right. We got the Blues Brothers.

Timothy Williams: I haven't done that one yet. I did that one.

Moving Panels: American Werewolf in London

Timothy Williams: So that's on the list.

Moving Panels: All I've never heard of this one coming soon, which apparently was a straight to video.

Timothy Williams: Nope.

Moving Panels: Trading Places Twilight Zone

Timothy Williams: Yep, Haven't done it yet.

Moving Panels: Into the Night

Timothy Williams: Haven't done it yet. That was a lesser known.

Moving Panels: And Spies Like Us. And what I'll look at that and…

Timothy Williams: Just doing it now. surprised

Moving Panels: and then he directed some BBK music videos Three Amigos.

Timothy Williams: Did that…

Moving Panels: Coming to America And that would be it.

Moving Panels: That's all for the 80s.

Timothy Williams: So I've done most of it.

Timothy Williams: I've only missed what three Blues Brothers Twilight Zone Into the Night.

Moving Panels: and whatever into the night is yeah.

Timothy Williams: Yeah. I think I want to say, it's Michelle Pfeiffer and

Timothy Williams: gosh.

Moving Panels: You are right Michelle Pfeiffer who is the male lead?

Timothy Williams: I can see his face the fly.

Moving Panels: Come on. Yeah, come on.

Timothy Williams: What's his name?

Moving Panels: Come on. I'm not gonna give it to you.

Timothy Williams: You're not I know.

Moving Panels: Yeah. Yeah,…

Timothy Williams: Yes, yes.

Moving Panels: come on. Yes indeed. Nope. no.

Timothy Williams: I do want to say Steve Gutenberg. I know that it close. my brain is not wanting to work.

Moving Panels: Life will find a way.

Timothy Williams: I Come on, Just gotta help me. I can't think I'm completely blinking.

Moving Panels: come on. All right from my world. He is The Grandmaster.

Timothy Williams: Yes, I know I can see this place.

Moving Panels: you got to think of his name. Come on. very common. First name. There's a metal in his last name.

Timothy Williams: I had it for a second.

Moving Panels: a valuable metal in his last name?

Timothy Williams: Yes. Yes, yes.

Moving Panels: Yes. I can't do an impression of them.

Timothy Williams: I'm gonna cheat. I'm about to cheat.

Moving Panels: no, come on.

Moving Panels: Yeah, there you…

Timothy Williams: Jeff Goldblum Yes, I just needed that little bit of the first name and…

Moving Panels: No. That's golden.

Timothy Williams: I was thinking gold and I was like, It's not Goldstein. Yeah, Jeff Goldblum. my gosh.

Moving Panels: Yeah. Hey Dan aykroads in that movie, too.

Timothy Williams: Really and…

Moving Panels: Yeah, I mean he's yeah,…

Timothy Williams: Into the Night? probably just Yeah,…

Moving Panels: he's a little bit further down in the cast. So

Timothy Williams: probably just pops up for a second.

Moving Panels: Yeah, never seen it.

Timothy Williams: All right, that'll make the highlight real way to go Larry. Thanks. I appreciate it. Keep me on my toes.

Moving Panels: No problem. Nothing, like forgetting one of the biggest actors of the 80s and 90s.

Timothy Williams: Like I said, I could see his face and who just could not think of his name. All right, last little bit of trivia here the title song Spies Like Us was written and performed by Paul McCartney. It peaked at number seven on the singles chart in the United States and early 1986 his last top 10 in the US until 2015. It also reached number 13 in the UK. John Landis directed a music video for the song where Aykroyd and Chase are performing the song with McCartney. Although they didn't actually play on the record Landis had stated that he felt like Spies Like Us was a terrible song, but he just didn't say no to McCartney or Warner Brothers.

Moving Panels: You can't say no to a beetle.

Timothy Williams: Yeah. probably Which it's not.

Moving Panels: It's not a great song.

Timothy Williams: Yeah, when it comes in at the end. I I remember that song beyond the radio. I never really really liking it. but may have to add it to the playlist on Apple music. So if you want to check out all of our 86 flashback mix playlist and are we adding that here shortly? all right, moving on to box office and critical reception before we wrap this puppy up the movie Spies Like Us was released in American theaters on December 6th, 1985 a debuted number two with a box office total of 8.6 million dollars beating out the only Rocky 4

00:40:00

Moving Panels: behind okay. Yeah.

Timothy Williams: So a beat out the only other new release of that week Young Sherlock Holmes, which debuted at number five? Yeah, but Rocky 4 was in its second week of release and…

Moving Panels: It's not that good though.

Timothy Williams: held on to the number one spot. I think it was at 10 million dollars. So it wasn't a huge gap but Spies Like Us was only considered moderately successful, but it did make it in the top 20 of box office earners for that year.

Moving Panels: I'm not mad at that.

Timothy Williams: No. all right, critical reception Rotten Tomatoes 35% on the Tomato Meter…

Moving Panels: my God.

Timothy Williams: In a 56 audience score. you think that's bad IMDb 6.4 out of 10 with viewers and a 22 on Metacritic.

Moving Panels: Okay the 6.4 with viewers. I'm better with that. But yeah,…

Timothy Williams: Yeah, yeah.

Moving Panels: the 20s and the 30s. It's not that bad.

Timothy Williams: The critics did not like it at all. But the critics didn't like many comedies like this especially but I think it's because the story is then it wasn't. what critics were looking for back then? It's just a fun entertaining.

Moving Panels: And I said just enjoy the movie.

Timothy Williams: Right right critics they weren't paid to enjoy movies back.

Moving Panels: It's a movie not a film.

Timothy Williams: Then. There are paid to critique them.

Timothy Williams: Right exactly. That's why this is eighties with eighties flick flashback not 80s film flashback. Just so

Timothy Williams: Yeah, I would put it in this is probably the upper 70s for me. I mean, It's still enjoyable. I definitely want to watch it again. Not when I want to watch every year, but it's fun.

Moving Panels: Yeah.

Timothy Williams: It's not as good as other Aykroyd and…

Moving Panels: yeah.

Timothy Williams: Chase movies, but still enjoyable.

Moving Panels: Yeah, I'd probably go more lower 70s for me because like you said it's not one that when I'm thinking of great comedies from the 80s, it's not one. They immediately comes to mind. That was someone mentions it. yeah. Yeah, that's a good one,…

Timothy Williams: Yeah.

Moving Panels: but it's not one that's gonna automatically Come up.

Timothy Williams: yeah for Wait a time. Yeah I won't do as I should have looked at top rated Chevy Chase moving to top rated awkward movies to see where it falls on those lists. but we got nothing but time so Okay.

Moving Panels: We can do that. Chevy Chase top 10 comedies

Timothy Williams: I'll look up Dan Aykroyd.

Moving Panels: All right. Do you care about the source?

Timothy Williams: let's see if we look at the same source, and we'll try to pull it in the same source.

Timothy Williams: What do you have?

Moving Panels: I mean the first thing that popped up was ranker.

Timothy Williams: okay. Let's do that. Rankers. Pretty good. I like ranker.

Moving Panels: So this is just Chevy Chase movies. best stores

Timothy Williams: Alright, this is best movies with Dan Aykroyd. So that's probably gonna have some dramas in there, too, but All right. Let's see.

Moving Panels: Spies Like Us is number five. Yeah.

Timothy Williams: wow, okay. It's definitely further down for Aykroyd. it's number six for Aykroyd.

Moving Panels: It is above Three Amigos.

Moving Panels: It is above Three Amigos.

Timothy Williams: Yeah, it's about three week. then I was on three Migos. Wow it beat out Coneheads.

Moving Panels: No.

Timothy Williams: So that's number seven.

Timothy Williams: Let's see Ghostbusters 2 was five Great Outdoors is four. Trading Places is three Blues Brothers is two and of course Ghostbusters is number one.

Moving Panels: Yeah, it's number five on this ranker number four is fetch.

Timothy Williams: Yep.

Moving Panels: Three is Caddyshack two is Christmas vacation and…

Timothy Williams: Yep vacation.

Moving Panels: one is vacation.

Timothy Williams: Yeah, that makes sense.

Timothy Williams: So hey, it's in the top 10,…

Moving Panels: Yeah. That does make sense.

Moving Panels: But wow.

Timothy Williams: but still not bad.

Moving Panels: Yeah, I wouldn't have put it above Three Amigos though.

Timothy Williams: no, no, I think Three Amigos is funnier, but he does Less in three Migos three Mega 3 videos is really a Steve Martin movie he is the primary character and really Chevy Chase is the third character he gets less to do than even Martin Short and three Migos but I like the scenes he's in so I can see why that's not ranked higher. Because he's the main character

00:45:00

Moving Panels: To finish out the top 10 six is Three Amigos seven is Funny Farm. Eight is Foul Play.

Timothy Williams: Okay.

Moving Panels: Nine is european vacation and 10 is fletch lives.

Timothy Williams: Too terrible sequels to round out the bottom way to go.

Moving Panels: I don't know the rest of the list isn't. I mean this because Vegas vacation is 12. Nothing, but trouble is 14.

Timothy Williams: Yeah, I've been trying to watch Funny Farm because it's on Max right now. And I haven't made it to the end yet. I keep moving what I'm only able to watch 20 to 25 minutes segments. So

Moving Panels: Yeah, that's a movie that I had a hard time watching the first few times.

Timothy Williams: Mm- Yeah,…

Moving Panels: I didn't get it.

Timothy Williams: it doesn't know what kind of tone it's trying to set like it's just feels so.

Timothy Williams: It doesn't know what kind of movie wants to be. So. Yeah.

Timothy Williams: 

Moving Panels: wait was Chevy Chase is in Caddyshack 2 And so is Dan Aykroyd they have been in another movie.

Timothy Williams: Yes, he's more. Yeah.

Moving Panels: Because Dan Acker replaces Bill Murray.

Timothy Williams: Yeah, but they don't have any screen time together.

Moving Panels: They probably don't have any scenes together. Yeah.

Timothy Williams: Yeah, because Chevy Chase is really just a cameo. He just pops in for one or two scenes. and accurate just kind of takes over the Bill Murray roll.

Moving Panels: Yeah.

Timothy Williams: So yeah, there's no interaction between them. Good catch though. I forgot about cash check, too.

Moving Panels: most people do but

Timothy Williams: It's forgotten for a reason.

Moving Panels: I forgot that. He's the principal in Orange County.

Timothy Williams: Mm-hmm

Moving Panels: I'm just looking through the rest of this list. There's a lot of movies with Chevy Chase that I either forgot about or do not know.

Timothy Williams: He did a couple direct-to-video. I went what is cops and Roberson's on because that's another terrible.

Moving Panels: What I don't even think that one's popped up yet. it did.

Timothy Williams: M and Jack Palance after Jack Lance Okay.

Moving Panels: I've already passed it. It was number 19.

Moving Panels: Right above Hot Tub Time Machine.

Timothy Williams: Yeah. another cameo Part-time Hot Tub Time Machine is funny though.

Moving Panels: 

Timothy Williams: I enjoyed that one. For what it is.

Moving Panels: I got nothing else.

Timothy Williams: All Thank you Laramie for joining today anything or anything else is there anything else you want to talk about? What the movie we covered it all?

Moving Panels: I think we covered it all.

Timothy Williams: I think we Got a good bit out.

Moving Panels: Yeah. We're good.

Timothy Williams: Tell me what's going on with the moving panels. How did you close out the year? And what do you got coming up in 2024?

Moving Panels: We had a nice little run of Christmas episodes in December.

Timothy Williams: Mm- Santa Claus is a mutant.

Moving Panels: you check those out and That was the one we did for Christmas Day and then we did a watch along of the tick love Santa episode.

Timothy Williams: mmm

Moving Panels: From the tick that one's fun. But then coming up here in the new year. Of course. I've been teasing for a while. Now that in March when we do our March Madness, we're gonna be discussing the Watchmen Alan Morris The Watchman but starting off 2024. We squeezed in League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.

Timothy Williams: In nice.

Moving Panels: So Blake and Blake and Bethany join me to discuss that one so that I can just go ahead and get in all of the major Alan Moore movie adaptations.

Timothy Williams: Yeah.

Moving Panels: All in at once and then we'll hit our 100th episode later in the year.

Timothy Williams: Mm-hmm

Moving Panels: And following suit with you and a lot more exciting stuff that I'm getting planned out one that I will keep secret but one that I messaged you about the other day.

Timothy Williams: Yeah,…

Timothy Williams: that's gonna be fun.

Moving Panels: that I've got plans a little.

Moving Panels: Little tease there.

Moving Panels: Pretty much gonna have I'll just say a battle of the hosts is what it'll be. them

Timothy Williams: Which looks like my 100th episode is gonna be somewhat similar to that as I gave all the hosts a couple of options and the one I thought they wouldn't want to do is the one that one by landslide.

Moving Panels: Okay, I will always you don't mind me saying what it is. Do you?

Timothy Williams: No, that's not tell them yet. But I know you'd be game for…

Moving Panels: We'll but yeah,…

Timothy Williams: but everybody else will.

Moving Panels: that's about to say that's the one I definitely would choose.

Timothy Williams: Yeah. Yeah. so we're gonna have fun for our 100 episodes. So be looking for that that'll be coming out the beginning of February which we've Got to get on that for planning and recording for that. But that's my own Madness that I live with. All right. So before we close out I'm adding a new segment this year. We're gonna do a 80s flick flashback feedback, so I want to share

00:50:00

Timothy Williams: From someone who is left us a written review on Apple podcast. So this review came from it looks like Nhiidah, which I'm sure is one of our International listeners, but they said very entertaining five stars. This podcast is very entertaining each one gives you the background for the movie The interesting tidbits, then breaks the movie Down The Friendly banter between the host and guest hosts will keep you laughing throughout the session. thank you Nita for the awesome review really appreciate that and of course if you want to leave us a nice review you can do that as well at Apple podcasts and be sure to give us a good rating five star rating and I like on Spotify as well.

Timothy Williams: that's a wrap for today's Journey down memory lane with the 80s flick flashback podcast before you hit stop. Don't forget to follow subscribe and showers with some shower us with some I can't say it before you hit stop. Don't forget to follow subscribe and shower us with some love by reading and reviewing the podcast and apple podcasts and Spotify. Do you have a burning question or just want to share your own epic 80s movie experience shoot us an email at 80s flick flashback.com

Timothy Williams: If you're enjoying our show, please share the love spread the word by sharing this episode with your fellow fans of 80s flicks. You can also connect with us on social media. You can find us on Facebook Instagram and tiktok for more nostalgic fun. And for those awesome Souls who want to take you to the next level support the show on buy me a coffee calm and we've got some rad inspired merch waiting for you on the website 80s flick flashback.com including fresh designs that are online store as well as at tea public Comm, which December has been my best month for sales on the t-shirts.

Timothy Williams: And it seems to be the most popular our shirts from better off dead. So I want my two dollars t-shirt. That's something really well.

Moving Panels: 

Timothy Williams: And then I did one with a skier that says go that way really fast if something gets in your way turn which I've sold a bunch of those. So I guess those are some good Christmas presents for people on a present. So glad to see those are selling well, so make sure you get yours as well. Thank you Laramie for joining. Thank everyone for listening. This is Tim Williams for the 80s flick flashback. Remember to stay rad cherish the memories and keep the spirit of 80s Nostalgia alive. Good night. Good people.