Spies Like Us at 40: Why This Cult Classic Endures

Plot Summary

Spies Like Us follows Emmett Fitz-Hume and Austin Millbarge, two incompetent US government who fail their Foreign Service Board Exam and are chosen by the CIA for a secret mission. Little do they know, they are not actually agents, but decoys meant to distract a Soviet team from doing a nuclear operation in Central Asia. Completely unprepared, Emmett and Austin must improvise their way through chaos, espionage, and danger as they unwittingly prevent a nuclear war.

Outstanding Performances from The Cast

One of the defining features of Spies Like Us is its cast, with Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase delivering the dynamic that drives the plot. As Austin Millbarge and Emmet Fitz-Hume, they blend slapstick humor, dry wit, and a sense of cluelessness that defines the movie. Chase channels Emmett's smug, rule-breaking persona, while Aykroyd portrays Ausin with an earnest, intelligent awkwardness that perfectly fits it. Though the characters begin as inept --- cheating their way through a Foreign Service exam and messing up their assignments --- the duo gradually reveals a likable resourcefulness beneath the idiocrasy.

Donna Dixon adds a welcome presence as Karen Boyer, offering cleverness, balance, and a grounded counterpoint to the chaos that follows. Her scenes with Chevy Chase carry an effortless chemistry that contributes to the movie rather than detract from its humorous charm.

The supporting cast further supplement the movie. Steve Forrest brings authoritative weight as General Sline, while Bernie Casey and Bruce Davison provide sharp contrast as the genuinely adept operatives whose professionalism highlight how ridiculously amateurish Emmett and Austin are. Even small appearances -- such as Frank Oz's memorable role as the exam proctor --- leave a mark.

Together, the ensemble cast ensures Spies Like Us remains a lively, character-driven comedy with lasting charm.

Best Moments from The Movie

Spies Like Us is no devoid of scenes that still get genuine laughs, and many of them stand out. One of the funniest moments comes early on when Emmett and Austin run into a group of Afghan resistance fighters. Austin tries to keep them calm by explaining "These are the Yusufzai, the Afghan resistance fighters. They are our allies" and then Emmett blurts out "We're Americans!" The reaction is swift --- they are bounded, hanged upside down, and moments away from being executed. Thankfully, Karen Boyer intervenes and saves them, further demonstrating they survive mostly because of the people around them.

Another hilarious scene in the movie is the surgery scene. Emmett and Austin are asked to assist during an operation, even though they have no idea of what they're supposed to do. They try to help, nevertheless, Karen and the other doctors suspect something is off about those two. The comedy reaches to a boiling point when the "patient" sits up and is completely fine, leaving the duo shocked. It's an excellent fish-out-of-water moment that captures why their relationship works so well.

The training sequence with Colonel Rhombus is another great moment. Watching Emmett and Austin fumble their way through drills and then get spun around inside that giant spinning simulator -- complete with ridiculous facial expressions -- is pure comedy gold. It's the movie leaning into slapstick humor, and it absolutely sells.

The climax of the movie finds Spies Like Us finds Emmett and Austin sneaking into a Soviet missile site dressed in glowing light suits, using the bizzare display to confuse the guards and then take them out using tranquilizer darts. Once everyone realizes how horrific it would be if the Soviet Union's own missile launched at its own country, the groups join forces. Emmett, Austin, Karen, and the other Soviet team halt the launch, relying on Millbarge's knowledge of guidance systems. The scene shows how far the duo has come --- two incompetent decoys who end up averting World War III.

Interesting Facts About Spies Like Us

Spies Like Us is full of interesting facts that make the movie even more appealing. The concept of the movie was originally pitched as a tribute to the classic Road To.... comedy movies from the 1940s and 50s starring Bob Hope and Bing Crosby. According to an article on Zentara, Dan Aykroyd was a fan of that series and envisioned Spies Like Us to be a modern homage. He initially planned to star in it alongside his close friend John Belushi, but the project was delayed after Belushi's tragic passing. When the movie was revived, Chevy Chase was cast in the co-lead role, and the project moved forward.

Another intriguing fact about the movie involved the snowy scenes in the Tadzhik Soviet Socialist Republic. According to the same article on Zentara, those scenes were actually shot in Norway. The production team had to deal with extremely scarce daylight hours, harsh weather conditions, and the challenge of transporting massive amounts of equipment -- including a prop missile -- across remote, snowy areas. Chevy Chase also had to perform his signature physical comedy on deep snow and slippery ice, which made the slapstick more hazardous than it appears onscreen.

One of the most memorable scenes in the movie, the iconic "Doctor, Doctor" conversation was entirely improvised. Director John Landis explained while the scene's layout was written in the script, Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd improvised much of the dialogue. Landis simply positioned the cameras and allowed the actors to build the exchange naturally, drawing on their experience on Saturday Night Live.

The recurring joke of Emmett and Austin being labeled as "GLG-20s", has a surprising basis in real world Cold War intelligence practices. Intelligence agencies have sometimes used decoys, misinformation, and seemingly incompetent agents to distract or mislead their adversaries. By sending two unfit operatives into a high-stakes mission, the movie cleverly plays into real-life espionage tactics -- adding a layer of plausibility beneath the comedy.

A Cult Classic That Still Endures

Spies Like Us has earned its place as a cult classic, leaving an eccentric yet unmistakable mark on pop culture. One of the most memorable tributes came from Family Guy, which produced an episode called "Spies Reminiscent of Us," featuring Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase as guest stars. In a hilarious twist, the episode imagines their characters becoming secret agents recruited by President Ronald Reagan after he watches the movie.

Beyond its humor, the movie is also notable for being surprisingly prophetic. A major plot point involves the CIA allocating money to a secret operation under the pretext of funding new stealth bombers. Coincidentally, the first stealth bomber, the Northrop B-2A Spirit, was unveiled on November 22nd, 1988, just three years after the film's release.

The film is also remembered for its portrayal of the Afghan mujahideen, reflecting the political tensions and the alliances during the mid-1980s. Though exaggerated for comedic effect, these aspects ground the story in the very real anxieties of the Cold War.

Nearly 40 years later, Spies Like Us endures because of its unique mixture of humor, Cold War satire, and the irresistible chemistry between Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase. It remains a reminder of an era when spy comedies could be big, silly, and memorable.