The Experts (1989)

User Rating:

4.1/10   

Director:

Dave Thomas

Writers (WGA):

Steven Greene (story) &
Eric Alter (story) ...

Release Date:

13 January 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

When Travis and Wendell are kidnapped while on their way to opening a nightclub in rural Nebraska. The KGB spy Cameron Smith takes them to the U.S.S.R...

Plot Keywords:

KGB

Cast

John Travolta	...	Travis
Arye Gross	...	Wendell
Kelly Preston	...	Bonnie
Deborah Foreman	...	Jill
James Keach	...	Yuri
Jan Rubes	...	Illyich
Brian Doyle-Murray	...	Mr. Jones
Charles Martin Smith	...	Mr. Smith
Mimi Maynard	...	Betty Smith
Eve Brent	...	Aunt Thelma
Rick Ducommun	...	Sparks
Steve Levitt	...	Gil
Tony Edwards	...	Nathan
Jack Ammon	...	Doc Benson
Marc Reid	...	Billy Smith

Also Known As:

Les experts (Canada: French title)

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Alphacine)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:L | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

John Travolta and Kelly Preston first met on the set of "The Experts" and later married.

Quotes:

Travis: [about the citizens of Indian Springs] Where are we gonna put them? They can't stay at my place.

Movie Connections:

References "The Jetsons" (1962)

Soundtrack:

Read My Mind

An entertaining piece of frolics.

Essentially: Keach & Travolta are inhouse comic perfection. Preston gamely holds her own, despite the four main guys powerful presences, which, actually is a rewarding set of dynamics to watch. One of Preston's more successful performances, just as it's probably the last 'fun' performance from Travolta before he became a typecast, formulaic, 'serious' actor. Keach's enigmatic, but playful role is sheer bewildering joy, as you guess he's making fun of Hollywood, but exactly who, is ambiguous. It's a sad loss to satire that he hasn't directed more films. We really need more films like this to remind us why 'opiate of the masses' was coined & that we do need/crave this kind of pleasure sometimes.

The Experts is a 20th Century fable based on the 'comedy of errors' tradition. Mistaken identities, predjudice, politics, romance, explosions, American 'Apple Pie' and a memorable Travolta & Preston dance scene that beats anything seen in 'Grease' or 'Saturday Night Fever' or even 'Dirty Dancing'!! It's the hottest! What more could you want from a fantasy! If Preston & Travolta are capable of such chemistry, why has no one capitalised on this since, unless there isn't a director up to the challenge? Bottling & exhibiting the pheromones is proof that this is a brilliant, vital film.

My Rating: 7/10 as a filmic experience, but 10/10 for escapism. If you fancy every form of visual & literary humour, plus some deliberately strong moral undertones, laced with sarcasm and all this wrapped up in highly energised performances, then this film is perfect.

Who should watch this film? The guns, army inferences, planes and 'Starsky & Hutch' buddy aspects will appeal to guys and the sexual electricity & electrical appliance jokes will appeal to females! It revels in traditional sex bias roles. This film was born to be decadently enjoyed, like chocolate, it's wonderfully sweet & addictive.