In this spoof of effects-heavy action films and James Bond thrillers, Nielsen plays Agent WD-40, who gets called back into duty when a madman thought to have been killed 15 years earlier resurfaces.
As the film's title suggests, "Spy Hard" is an all-out spoof of action and espionage films, in the same vein as the "Airplane" and "Naked Gun" movies. As with those films, the plot (about an armless madman attempting to takeover the world) merely provides an excuse for non-stop sight gags, puns, celebrity cameos and of course, film parodies. Some of the movies spoofed include "Speed," "Mission: Impossible," "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," "Pulp Fiction," and even "Sister Act."
Released theatrically in the USA May 24, 1996.
Color by Technicolor.
Additional cast: John Ales (Kabul), Carlos Lauchu (Slice), and Stephanie Romanov (Victoria/Barbara Dahl).
Additional credit: E.C. Chen (set decorator).
Director Rick Friedberg directed Leslie Nielsen's comedic commercials for Dollar Rent A Car. Two of the screenwriters are the director's 24-year-old son Jason, and his college roommate.
Rated BBFC PG by the British Board of Film Classification.
Excerpt: "Miss Cheevus, is the director available?" -- Dick Steele (LESLIE NIELSEN), to Miss Cheevus (MARCIA GAY HARDEN)
"No, he's married." -- Miss Cheevus, in response.
DVD Features:
Region 1 Encoding
Production Featurette
Theatrical Trailer
Chapter Search
Keep Case
Distributor Notes: Spy Hard
Here's the outrageous comedy hit that blends high-tech adventure with high-spirited humor for nonstop laughs! Big-screen funnyman Leslie Nielsen (NAKED GUN 33 1/3, AIRPLANE!) is the hilarious Agent WD-40, lured back into service by The Agency. Teamed with the sexy agent 3.14 (Nicollette Sheridan -- BEVERLY HILLS NINJA), he's sent on his hardest mission ever ... to stop the evil General Rancor (Andy Griffith -- TV's MATLOCK) before he destroys the world! With high-flying laughs and high-voltage action, SPY HARD is the wackily entertaining comedy hit that has audiences everywhere howling!
Source: Buena Vista Home Entertainment.
Stars
Leslie Nielsen: Author, "Leslie Nielsen's Stupid Little Golf Book"
Nicollette Sheridan: TV/Film Actress
Charles Durning: American Actor
Marcia Gay Harden: Oscar winning american actress, POLLOCK
Barry Bostwick: American TV/Film Actor
Andy Griffith: Actor, THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW
John Ales:
Elya Baskin: Supporting Actor
Mason Gamble: Child Actor/Dennis Menace
Carlos Lauchu:
Stephanie Romanov:
Curtis Armstrong: Actor/"Revenge Of Nerds"
Tina Arning:
William Barillaro:
Michael Berryman: Actor/"Meat Pies"
Julie Brown: Comedienne/Actress/Writer
Stephen Burrows:
Keith Campbell:
Carl Ciarfalio:
Johnny Cocktails:
Wayne Cotter:
Rick Cramer:
Eddie Deezen: Quinessential movie geek; "Eugene" in "Grease"
Joey Dente:
Paul Eliopoulos:
Tone Loc: Actor/Voice/Rapper
Katherine Moffat:
Tyler Patton:
Joyce Brothers: American advice columnist, psychologist
Ray Charles: American singer, songwriter,actor
Chevy Chase: American actor, comedian, VACATION
Roger Clinton: Singer/Actor/Bill's Broth
Robert Culp: Agent Kelly Robinson of TV's "I Spy"
Fabio: Model
Robert Guillaume: African American actor, BENSON
Hulk Hogan: Wrestler/TV Personality
Noriyuki Morita: Actor, THE KARATE KID/HAPPY DAYS
Mr. T:
Alexandra Paul: Supporting Actress
"Weird Al" Yankovic: Comic Singer/Actor, UHF (1989)
Director
Rick Friedberg: Director/"Off The Wall"
Producer
Doug Draizin: PRODUCER
Rick Friedberg: Director/"Off The Wall"
Jefrrey Konvitz:
Composer
Bill Conti: Composer
Editor
Eric Sears: TV/Film Editor
Costume Designer
Tom Bronson:
Director of Photography
John R. Leonetti:
Sound Effects Editor
Bill Brown: Sound Effects Editor, mostly television, began in the '90s
Review 1:
"...[Nielsen] brings the same spirit of deadpan comic earnestness to the role that he brought to his intrepid police lieutenant in the NAKED GUN series..."
Source: New York Times
p.C3 05/24/1996