Runtime: 90 minutes
Directed by: ZAZ
Starring: Val Kilmer (RIP), Lucy Gutteridge, Chrisotpher Villiers, Omar Sharif, Peter Cushing
From: Paramount
RIP Val Kilmer
As a child of the 80’s and 90’s, I first saw him on screen via the theatrical experience of Willow in 1988 at the age of 7. After that it was films like Tombstone, Top Gun, Heat, and Batman Forever, the latter another theatrical viewing. Then, The Island of Dr. Moreau happened… among all its other issues was Val engaging in a metaphorical phallus-measuring contest with a legendary temperamental actor in Marlon Brando; that alone ruined his Hollywood career. As that allegedly wasn’t the only instance of bad behavior, that’s why his career never recovered. I was still sad that he had those bad health issues for years before passing away. That inexplicable character he portrayed in The Snowman… that one can never be explained. Thankfully he got a nice send-off in Top Gun: Maverick.
Despite viewing The Naked Gun movies (BTW, the coming out this August… I just saw the trailer, and no thank you) along with Airplane in the past, Top Secret was a first-time watch. If you’ve never tackled Secret at all, it is important to note that it is a level of parody comparable to the ZAZ films I just mentioned. East Germany wishes to reunite w/ West Germany and their plans would coincide with a big cultural festival. Kilmer-in his film debut-was Nick Rivers, a big rock star whose song Skeet Surfin’ is heard in the opening credits. That spoofs several Beach Boys tunes.
Indeed, Rivers becomes mixed up with this insidious plot. I don’t want to give away too many of the gags or why the film’s main poster features a cow; I can say that the movie is quite funny as these old spoofs used to be until they became rotten in the 21st century. There’s a wide variety of jokes, including some wild ideas that (mostly) land. An underwater fight is marvelous.
As the movie mainly parodied both World War II dramas about the war and the cornball 60’s Elvis pictures, thankfully Kilmer nailed his role. As he was a graduate of Julliard, he also nailed the songs he sang and the moments which required dancing. There are only a few other famous faces although it’s always great seeing Michael Gough, Omar Sharif and Peter Cushing.
As it’s a ZAZ film, of course there are crude, ribald moments; also like in ZAZ films, that doesn’t overwhelm the movie as many of the gags aren’t more silly than crude or ribald. As I’ve said a decent amount of times on Letterboxd, shame that it took a death for me to view a film I found to be quite enjoyable. In the future, I will of course see more of Val’s work-perhaps even some obscure efforts. Again, Rest in Peace to Val Kilmer.