Gotcha! (1985)

Quite an appealing and quirky, if dated (with its politics) mid-eighties teen romantic comedy-thriller set mainly in Europe and starring a young Anthony Edwards as a college sophomore who's simply an ace at a campus assassination game known as Gotcha, although he can't seem to score with the girls. He hopes that this would change when he travels to Europe for a summer vacation and things do turn out for him when he meets a young lady Sasha. Everything is going well, until they travel to East Berlin where he learns she is not all that she seems. She disappears and he finds himself on the run from some Russian spies who believe he has something they want. "Gotcha!" starts off like your typical simple minded teen comedy, before slowly setting the situation up (dangerous spy games) and then having the novelty (our hero being a pro with a paint gun) ending in an ironically smart manner. Director Jeff Kanew (who was behind "Revenge of the Nerds") does a workable job blending its romantic shades (which familiarly plays out its message) with the lethal action in some amusingly funny exchanges (like those scenes involving the worried parents; "You had to let him go to Europe"!) and thrilling on-the-run scenarios. The script is sharply penned with its dialogues. A likable Edwards is perfectly cast in lead role as the naïve hero who actually becomes a target for real and Linda Fiorentino is ravishingly mysterious as the lady who he falls for. Gotta love the title song too… it has a catchy hook and also showing up in the cast is Alex Rocco. "It's just a game."

Before Anthony Edwards was fighting cancer and his receding hair line he stared in this romantic thriller of the 80s. Edwards plays Johnathan, a student who spends his time playing paint-ball games and striking out with ladies in tight sweaters. He takes a little trip to Europe and finds himself mixed up in all kinds of crazy espionage. Nick Corri has a supporting role as the hot best friend. Linda Fiorentino (once again not so much as cracking a smile for more than five seconds)plays Sasha, the mysterious young woman who convinces Johnathan to take a little detour. This movie is a perfect 80s film. It has everything; sex, drugs, spies, and bad accents. It is a must see!

I remember seeing this movie when it first came out, it instantly became one of my favorites. IT was fun, had a nice plot, and Linda Fiorentino was a bombshell. If those that have seen it did not notice, but this movie can pretty much be single handedly thanked for PAINTBALL. In fact when the movie came out they even had the Gotcha Guns, which was pitched by quarterback Jim McMahon. The game was played by Anthony edwards(E.R, Top Gun) and his friends around college, they each had a id card and were assigned a person to kill, honestly I thought it to be a great idea that could be a lot of fun.so everyone that is out there playing paintball every weekend which I am sure there are a lot of you, thank this movie. If you are a fan of the 80's this is a definite must see.

I first saw "Gotcha!" in 1985, when it first came out. This is, by far, one of the coolest spy flicks of the 1980's -- way better than all of those generic James Bond movies. The scenes in the DDR will put you on the edge of your seat. Makes you relieved you lived in the U.S. during the Cold War. My favorite Anthony Edwards movie (next to "Revenge of the Nerds"). I just watched it tonight for the first time in a decade, and I have to tell you: It is still as entertaining and slick as it was in 1985.