"Spies Like Us"

For the past 2 years, I've really been analyzing the comedy film and television work of the Second City/National Lampoon/Saturday Night Live crew that pretty much dominated American comedy from the mid 70s to early 90s. Why? Because these comic actors and writers have shaped so much of the current comic/satirical atmosphere. Just about everything we associate with funny would be much different. Plus, I grew up loving their stuff. There's just so much colorful work to review.

But lets look at "Spies Like Us", a popular title but often berated little film that isn't too big on the filmographies of Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase and John Landis. Its a dream team. but kind of a throwaway film. This was made for fun and some pocket change, not to say anything big or change film. Its pretty cute, lightweight entertainment too.

Dan Aykroyd wrote the script with himself and John Belushi in mind for thetitle roles. But after Belushi passed, the role went to their "on-again-off-again" cohort Chevy Chase, who had been doing great minus the support of his fellow Not Ready For Primetime Players. Dan must have wrote this to hightlight his more dramatic side, as this is really one of his earliest straight man roles. To modern audiences its pretty normal to see him so normal like the father he played in "My Girl" or the son in "Driving Miss Daisy".

Aykroyd plays the smart and upstanding role while Chevy is the immature and wisecracking fool. Chevy is the highlight of this movie as he steals every scene he's in. Dan is very dry and not as sharp with his humor here. Akroyd's scripts are usually full of stale characters and wooden dialogue which is great for people like Belushi, Chase and Bill Murray to bring their streetwise comedy style and highjack the picture.

This is really one of the last times the original Saturday Night Live spirit is translated to film. There's some dark humor and rather adult reference in here that are absent from their post-80s stuff.

Donna Dixon: Doctor, I've read all your papers.
Chevy: My papers? How did you get my papers?

I'd say the film is right there with the second-tier original SNL alum comedies with "Stripes", "European Vacation" or "Caddyshack 2". Certainly above the interesting mess "Nothing but Trouble" that would be the last Chas/Aykroyd team-up.