If Looks Could Kill (1991)

Director:

William Dear

Writers (WGA):

Fred Dekker (story)
Darren Star (screenplay)

Release Date:

15 March 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Fantasy

Tagline:

He's having the adventure of someone else's life.

Plot:

When Michael Corben, along with the rest of his high-school French class, set out for a trip to France...

Plot Keywords:

Teen | Secret Agent | Espionage | Spoof | Spy Hero

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Richard Grieco	...	Michael Corben
Roger Rees	...	Augustus Steranko
Linda Hunt	...	Ilsa Grunt
Robin Bartlett	...	Patricia Grober
Gabrielle Anwar	...	Mariska
Geraldine James	...	Vendetta Galante
Michael Siberry	...	Derek Richardson
Carole Davis	...	Areola Canasta
Frederick Coffin	...	Lieutenant Colonel Larabee
Tom Rack	...	Zigesfeld
Roger Daltrey	...	Blade
Oliver Dear	...	Kent
Cynthia Preston	...	Melissa Tyler (as Cyndy Preston)
Michael Sinelnikoff	...	Haywood
Travis Swords	...	Kelly

Also Known As:

Teen Agent (UK)

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Finland:K-14 (re-rating) | Finland:K-16 (original rating) | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Germany:16 | Australia:PG | Norway:10 | Spain:T | Sweden:15 | USA:PG-13 | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Manoir Richelieu, Québec, Canada

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

The thousands of gold coins made Steranko's metallurgists were actually chocolate coins covered in gold foil wrapping.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: After Michael Corbin is presented with the Lotus Esprit, Vendetta Galante shows him the tuxedo and scuba gear in the trunk while Derek opens the passenger door. Clearly, Michael and Vendetta are standing at the rear of the vehicle. However, Lotus Esprits made in the UK are mid-engine vehicles, thus the trunk is in the front.

Quotes:

[discussing the "other" Michael Corben]
Lt. Col. Larabee: This operative has been living under an alias for the last five years, establishing, building and maintaining deep cover in the United States. Nobody knows what he looks like here. They don't know his age, race or background. All that we do know is that he is arriving on air Trans-At flight thirty-five departing Detroit tomorrow morning under the codename "Michael Corben."
Haywood: Lieutenant Colonel Larabee's codename is... ”Mother."
[the board members all snicker]
Haywood: Kelly?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Mission: Impossible (1996)

Soundtrack:

LOUD GUITARS, FAST CARS AND WILD, WILD LIVIN'

A Poor Man's James bond

A stupid but pretty entertaining James Bond-type action flick, this features comedy a lot more than it does action. There were enough funny lines in the comedy to make it a keeper in my collection for awhile. Like the Bond movies, there were also a good number of clever gadgets.

The story is preposterous, so you can't take any of it seriously.There is too much macho baloney from the young hero in here, played by Richard Grieco, not a household name but a decent actor. Speaking of acting, Robin Bartlett, who plays the French teacher, overacts terrible and is just plain annoying. It's no wonder we've never heard her name before.

Action scenes range from pretty good to incredibly stupid.