Undercover Blues (1993)

Retired spy team, a loving married couple on leave with their newborn baby in the French Quarter, are lured back into the business with a top-secret assignment involving plastic explosives (so dangerous "the military won't even touch 'em!"). Unexciting, unfunny updating of "The Thin Man" and its ilk, a comedic crime-caper so hammy that almost every character--the villains in particular--become human cartoons. Dennis Quaid dispatches with two street thugs while holding his infant, but this kind of outlandish humor looks really out of place in a modern-day scenario. New Orleans has been made-over into some kind of fantasy free-for-all, one where anyone can crash a party or play games with the local law (made to look like incompetent boobs). Kathleen Turner, despite having to haul her kid around like a pet, gets by with her smoky register and guttural laugh, and she makes Dennis Quaid look like a wet upstart by comparison. Unsuccessful at the box-office, espionage comedies being out of fashion. *1/2 from ****

During the 1980s and early 1990s, Kathleen Turner was one of Hollywood's top A-list actresses. She appeared in a series of hit movies and was much in demand as a leading lady. She made a few duds, but her films had a high batting average, plus she was very beautiful and could really act. She had, and still has, true star quality.Unfortunately, "Undercover Blues", released in 1993, is a very typical spy thriller-comedy with nothing new to offer. Jane and Jeff Blue (Turner and Dennis Quaid) are soon-to-be retired spies who do the hackneyed "one last assignment" thing, along with their baby daughter. They do battle with an evil Czech agent (Fiona Shaw) and of course come out victorious after many dangerous situations.There's nothing new in "Undercover Blues" that I could identify. Different actors had done the same thing in dozens of previous movies. The main villain isn't really that interesting, and a dumb criminal (played by Stanley Tucci) has some funny scenes but that's it. The whole thing has a lackluster "paint-by-the-numbers" feel to it. The shining star in the movie is of course Turner, who steals every scene in which she appears. Dennis Quaid is okay, but almost any actor with his qualifications could have taken his place.After the mid-1990s, Turner's career took an abrupt downturn due to illness. Her days as a leading lady are over, but she does pop up from time to time in films and on television. "Undercover Blues" is silly and unremarkable, but it does showcase Turner in one of her last roles during her star period. It's worth a look for her appearance alone.

Don't pay attention to the ratings. The numbers should be at least an 8 not a mere 5+. This movie is pure entertainment with enough funny lines to fill a book. All the characters are memorable and lots of fun to watch. Read the Quotes section under FUN STUFF to get a preview of what you will enjoy. I don't think I've laughed so often and so hard in a long time watching a movie. This one is a must see.Turner and Quaid as Mr. and Mrs. Blue, a happily married spy couple, is as much fun as the Thin Man series was. And the Blues have a baby which the bring along on most of their escapades. I have seen this movie two times and it got better the second time around because I was able to catch some of the fast throw away lines which are real gems.

This is a great family comedy! Stanley Tucci is wonderfully and comically tragic as a somewhat clumsy street thug. Fiona Shaw shines as the slightly demented Eastern European ex-patriot terrorist leader (and who would have thought that Aunt Petunia could be so HOT!). It is nice to finally see a film couple, Dennis Quaid and Kathleen Turner, who are actually similar in age (I believe Quaid is only three months older than Turner). I am so tired of seeing a woman twenty years younger than the man as a viable couple in Hollywood films. Because of the age similarity, they have beautiful chemistry and seem so comfortable together that their super spy exploits and comedic timing are seamless and perfectly in sync. This is a great fun family film. My husband and I went to see it in the theatre and he actually fell out of his seat because he was laughing so hard. I had to support him as we left because his sides hurt so badly. I bought this movie for my collection when it came out on VHS and it still cracks me up 14 years later. I have shared it with many friends and family members over the years and it has quickly become a favorite popcorn movie at home.