Condorman - A fun-filled Bond-esque classic

I loved this film in the eighties.  I used to own it on Betamax, but since VHS and DVDs took over the world, I lost my copy of 'Condorman' somewhere along the way.  Michael Crawford (better known for his hapless TV character Frank Spencer), plays a comicbook writer who gets recruited by the CIA and uses his own designs for a hero's gadgets to help him smuggle a Russian double agent back to the USA.

As improbably as that sounds, you're best just glossing over it, as thinking too deeply about anything you see will spoil the film further.  It's effectively a parody of spy movies and, mainly, Roger Moore's take on the 'Bond' character.  However, there are those who said that Roger Moore took the franchise in too much of a silly direction, therefore making it a parody to begin with!

However, whereas Bond is serious - even Moore's version - 'Condorman' is just stupid, cheesy fun.  I loved it as a kid and therefore watch it now through the eyes of nostalgia.  However, now I will confess to being a little off put by Frank Spencer's... sorry, Woody Wilkins' faux American accent.  He is an odd choice for an action hero-lead as he certainly isn't physically intimidating, but I guess that's part of the joke.

The gadgets make the film and they're always cool to watch - especially when they're 'practical effect's and stunts.  The blue screen work is very easy to spot now and the film could do with remastering to clean up the obvious effects.  The direction itself is competent, but the soundtrack is a little repetitive, especially during the climactic chase.

Yes, I loved it as a kid and others who have such nostalgic memories of it will probably get something out of it, too.  However, it's unlikely to find a new audience nowadays.  If you have an eight-year-old boy, he might like it, but anyone over the age of eight will feel pretty bored by it all.  I'm glad it seems to have found a 'cult following' over the ages as it should definitely be appreciated by some.  I guess we'll never get to see the franchise that Disney were hoping for, despite leaving the film on a 'cliffhanger.'

8/10 The Force is definitely strong with this one