The Experts (1989)
Travis and Wendell are two down-on-their-luck New Yorkers who think they're relocating to a small town in Nebraska to open a nightclub. What they don't know is they've actually been abducted by a KGB operative and flown to the Soviet Union, where they'll unwittingly serve as "experts" on all things cool in America. The town, created expressly for KGB spies-in-training, is meant to serve as a training ground for Soviet agents. What can these two hapless Americans possibly teach the Soviet spies, and will they ever learn they are not actually in Nebraska?
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OK, I will admit that this movie won't have you on the floor rolling with laughter. I will also admit that, despite that, I found this to be an enjoyable flick and lighthearted enough to be entertaining. The premise is good (I won't spoil it for you, but you can read it above), Travolta and Gross play their parts well (although almost too well, as I don't think either were really "acting"), and the dance scene between Travolta and his future wife is pretty hot! It is well worth the price of a rental, I would even buy it if I saw it for under $10. It is fun and you can pretty much guess the ending, but if you leave your brain in the drawer or somewhere else where you can't get to it while watching this flick, you will not have wasted your time. 8/10 for a truly enjoyable movie!
If you're in the mood for some dopey light entertainment, this will pass the time. If you expect one jot of plausibility, don't bother. To me, the dance scene looked like it was exaggerated for comic effect; it didn't look especially hot or skilled.
Essentially: Keach & Travolta are inhouse comic perfection. Preston gamely holds her own, despite the four main guys powerful presences, which, actually is a rewarding set of dynamics to watch. One of Preston's more successful performances, just as it's probably the last 'fun' performance from Travolta before he became a typecast, formulaic, 'serious' actor. Keach's enigmatic, but playful role is sheer bewildering joy, as you guess he's making fun of Hollywood, but exactly who, is ambiguous. It's a sad loss to satire that he hasn't directed more films. We really need more films like this to remind us why 'opiate of the masses' was coined & that we do need/crave this kind of pleasure sometimes.The Experts is a 20th Century fable based on the 'comedy of errors' tradition. Mistaken identities, predjudice, politics, romance, explosions, American 'Apple Pie' and a memorable Travolta & Preston dance scene that beats anything seen in 'Grease' or 'Saturday Night Fever' or even 'Dirty Dancing'!! It's the hottest! What more could you want from a fantasy! If Preston & Travolta are capable of such chemistry, why has no one capitalised on this since, unless there isn't a director up to the challenge? Bottling & exhibiting the pheromones is proof that this is a brilliant, vital film.My Rating: 7/10 as a filmic experience, but 10/10 for escapism. If you fancy every form of visual & literary humour, plus some deliberately strong moral undertones, laced with sarcasm and all this wrapped up in highly energised performances, then this film is perfect.Who should watch this film? The guns, army inferences, planes and 'Starsky & Hutch' buddy aspects will appeal to guys and the sexual electricity & electrical appliance jokes will appeal to females! It revels in traditional sex bias roles. This film was born to be decadently enjoyed, like chocolate, it's wonderfully sweet & addictive.
This is one of those movies that basically got lost in the crowd. I guess the only thing that came out of this movie is John Travolta and Kelly Preston! They met on the sets of The Experts, and soon afterwards..the wedding bells rung! I would'nt watch this movie if I were you...it's nothing special.