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:

They actually shot the airport scenes in 2 airports. The departure was in Dorval (YUL for any aviation fan) and the arrival was shot in Mirabel (YMX).

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:

Richardson: Nasty business. I wonder how it happened.
Michael Corben: The ticket. It had my name on it.
Richardson: Of course.
Michael Corben: I didn't wanna sit there.
Richardson: Well, what else could you do?
Michael Corben: Nothin'. I was just mindin' my own business, honest.
Richardson: You're lucky to be alive. You know, if this was Spain, with their security, they'd have killed you for sure.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Mission: Impossible (1996)

Soundtrack:

BETTER THE DEVIL YOU KNOW

A Pleasant Surprise

"If Looks Could Kill" deserved to do better at the boxoffice. This is another instance of a studio throwing away a perfectly good film by giving it ZERO promotion. This spy spoof, while not a masterpiece, is fast-paced, light and consistently amusing. Perfect non-think entertainment. Richard Grieco is hip and quite likable in his role as Michael Corben, who is prevented from graduating from high school due to a flunking grade in french class. He wrangles his way onto a trip to France with another class and, through hilariously convoluted circumstances, gets mixed up in an espionage plot and mistaken for a master spy. He soon finds himself somewhat enjoying the masquerade but as the plot thickens, has to rely on his wits and ingenuity to keep himself alive and catch the bad guys.

The gags and one-liners spoofing James Bond and other spies come fast and furious, thanks to a clever script by Fred Dekker and Darren Star and fleet-footed direction by William Dear.

Had this movie been released in the Summer instead of the dead of Winter, it probably would have done better. Do yourself a favor and catch it on video now. You'll probably be pleasantly surprised.