Hitchcock lite.

That's the short review of this mid-'80s trifle—a silly little comedy of uncertain tone and too simple plotting. It really has the mindset and production values of an over aged after-school special.

UCLA student Jonathan Moore (Anthony Edwards with an astonishing amount of blond hair) is a whiz at a campus assassination paintball game. But he strikes out with girls. Then on vacation in Paris, he meets Sasha (Linda Fiorentino) who quickly hustles him into the sack, despite the least persuasive East European accent you'll ever hear. It sounds like she's trying out for Natasha (of Boris and…). Some examples:

"You are weergin, yes?"

"I told you, dis is vorking vacation."

"Dat is second lie, Jonathan. Do not let dere be a turd."

She persuades him to join her in a little side trip to East Berlin where they become involved in ill-defined spy stuff. You never really know who's up to what, and so the plot amounts to nothing. Demonstrating just how much times have changed, Jonathan's friend picks up girls by pretending to be a terrorist.

The DVD

Video:

Image quality is o.k. for an unassuming formula picture almost 20 years old, but nothing more. The grainy, sometimes greenish color comes from the original, not the transfer. The 1.85 anamorphic picture is exactly what I remember from the theatrical release. DVD appears to have been made from elements that have been well preserved with only the usual surface flecks.

Sound:

Anything more than the mono soundtrack might have made Ms. Fiorentino's accent more than viewers could bear.

Extra:

The original trailer is the sole extra.

Final Thoughts:

The stars have certainly gone on to much better work, and they brought a light, tongue-in-cheek touch to their work.