Teen Agent - When looks could kill
Movie | |
---|---|
German title | Teen Agent - When looks could kill |
Original title | If Looks Could Kill |
Country of production | United States |
original language | English |
Publishing year | 1991 |
length | 85 minutes |
Age rating | FSK 12 (video version 16) |
Rod | |
Director | William Dear |
script | Darren Star |
production |
Neil Meron , Craig Zadan |
music | David Foster |
camera | Douglas Milsome |
cut | John F. Link |
occupation | |
|
Teen Agent - If Looks Could Kill (Alternate Title : The Spy Who Could Kill ; Original Title: If Looks Could Kill ) is an American action comedy from 1991 . Directed by William Dear and written by Darren Star .
action
The 18-year-old student Michael Corben from Detroit got a very bad grade in French at the end of the year. His class is planning a trip to France under the direction of French teacher Patricia Grober to improve the students' language skills. Michael is also (compulsorily) enrolled for this excursion. At the same time, a CIA agent who is also traveling to France and whose code name is identical to Michael's name is killed by the murderer Ilsa Grunt at the airport . Since nothing was known of the agent apart from his alias - not even his appearance and age - Michael is mistaken for this very agent by secret service agents in France. He receives agent equipment à la James Bond and is commissioned to protect the politician Augustus Steranko. At first not aware of the real danger, Michael tries to fulfill the order.
However, it quickly turns out that Steranko is a psychopathic megalomaniac who wants to have numerous European politicians murdered and to usurp the entire gold reserves in Europe. Ilsa Grunt was Steranko's foster mother, trainer and hired killer. Since Michael appeared on the enemy side doubts about the death of the real agent, assassinations are carried out on Michael and Mrs. Grober and her class kidnapped in Steranko's castle. Michael allies himself with Mariska, whose father was a secret agent killed by Steranko and who wanted to take action against Steranko on her own. Together they free the students and the teacher and take care of Steranko when he tries to escape. Ultimately, Michael gets a good grade in French and decides to continue working for the CIA.
Reviews
Film-Dienst wrote that the "lavishly produced film" was aimed "at a teenage audience and their consumer desires" . He vacillates "undecided between pastiche and action fast food" and offers "only modest entertainment" . The only thing that is remarkable is "the shift in the enemy image: from a power-hungry superstate to the economic power of the European Community" .
Cinema magazine wrote that the "mix of James Bond-for-the-poor and teenage fooling" had fallen "frighteningly flat" . Linda Hunt's collaboration could not save him either.
Awards
William Dear, Robin Bartlett and the film for Best Fantasy Film were nominated for the Saturn Award in 1992 .
backgrounds
The film was shot in Montreal and a few other locations in Québec . It grossed approximately $ 7.8 million in US cinemas .
Web links
- Teen Agent - If looks could kill in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Teen Agent - If looks could kill at Rotten Tomatoes (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Teen Agent - When Looks Could Kill, in the Lexicon of International Films , accessed September 18, 2008
- ↑ Cinema , accessed September 18, 2008
- ^ Filming locations for If Looks Could Kill , accessed September 18, 2008
- ↑ Box office / business for If Looks Could Kill , accessed September 18, 2008