The Man Who Knew Too Little

1997 "He’s on a mission so secret, even he doesn’t know about it."
6.6| 1h37m| PG| en
Details

An American gets a ticket for an audience participation game in London, then gets involved in a case of mistaken identity. As an international plot unravels around him, he thinks it's all part of the act.

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Reviews

SnoReptilePlenty Memorable, crazy movie
Mjeteconer Just perfect...
Crwthod A lot more amusing than I thought it would be.
Kaydan Christian A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.
Junior Bronson This is a very enjoyable and funny movie that is what I call an "easy watcher" that you don't have to invest too much into, you just have to kick back and get ready to laugh. It's a simple story but Bill Murray is brilliant as pretty much always he is, and this movie is a gem of a film that I think is one of the most underrated comedies of its era.Bill Murray in "The Man Who Knew Too Little" gives us that perfect no-brainer movie everyone in the family should love. Murray stars as a bumbling, clueless American who visits his brother in London on his birthday - unfortunately he's such a buffoon who embarrasses his brother in front of his associates that he is gotten rid of by the brother who "treats" him to a live gaming/theatre event where he will be playing a spy. He's teamed up with an obviously stereo-typically gorgeous female co-spy he hits the town and gets to work, playing it up as a super-spy. Soon he's killing enemy agents left and right.This is a very physical comedy and Murray shines, and it's really just a very silly and completely predictable script but it never fails to deliver laughs which is what this kind of movie is all about. Along with Quick Change this is a Bill Murray comedy masterpiece that deserves much more credit.
deadzombie A Bill Murray vehicle which is all over the road. Pee Wee Herman would have made a better secret agent. The writers pulled out all the B movie plots to write this. Bill Murray "Secret Agent" in London, falls into a "secret plot" to kill some Prime Minister.A Call girl to the British Defense Minister has "secret letters" that means absolutely nothing to anyone. Russian "secret" agents grab Murray and hold him for something.Scotland yard is looking for Bill Murray who are as competent as Pee Wee Herman finding his Bicycle at the Alamo.The British Secret Service agents are older then the Queen. There is a summit between Russian,British,German,American Embassadors and absolutely no security at a Hotel in London. Meanwhile Russian agents want to torture Bill Murray for some unknown and stupid reason kind of like the three stooges.Anyway an old Gezzer couple dressed in leather are performing S&M acts,absolutely hideous script.What moron wrote this movie. ?Why would any good actor agree to appear in this movie.It states that it cost $20,000,000 to make this movie. unless I read this wrong.It grossed like $10,000,000 worldwide.
elshikh4 This is one enjoyable comedy for sure. "A" for that script. It managed to create a long chain of nice misunderstandings, including the many double-meaning words. And I liked intensifying all the hot events in about 2 hours of one night.The thing about the anti-James Bond is that he represents us; all the clumsy wanna-be heroes out there. So when the movie celebrates his always accidental victory, winning the respect and the fear from everybody, we feel so relieved, turning into heroes ourselves, since one of us DID IT, and purely by his / our clumsiness, to leave the movie a bit proud of our low capacities and sheer innocence, believing – even if spuriously – that someday we'll save the world as much as god is on our side, and some scriptwriters as well ! However, the script forgot to explain what the fact around the woman / the minster's mistress was ? What the need for those letters could be ? And I thought the relationship between the lead and his brother could have been rooted better, to present some kind of a meaning at last, concerning the importance of being careless and adventurous more than uptight and narrow-minded.Speaking about "careless" pushes immediately to (Bill Murray). I love such a guy. He plays everything with a trademark sweet coolness. Look at him fooling around as a Russian dancer who, by his axiomatic fun, excels the rest of the serious authentic dancers. No one I remember can do such a scene with a serene lovely sense but (Murray). He's the easygoing friend that everybody wishes for. So, another "A" for the lead actor. The minor parts weren't done as good. I mean (Peter Gallagher) as the brother ?! Where was (Jon Lovitz) for god's sake ? Then (Joanne Whalley) ?? She's totally miscast. I don't know how they didn't come up with any funny, any sexy other actress ?! It's only (Alfred Molina) who was great as the professional "butcher"; with the double meaning of the word !The movie suffers from a small size budget. With another sum of money this should have been more powerful and dazzling. And (Jon Amiel)'s direction didn't help much mastering a powerful and dazzling image in the first place. Well, this is a kind of James Bond spoof, so be at least a bit big or colorful instead of looking like something shot in a very tight rooms ! This is dazzling at heart movie. Because outwardly it's near to poor TV. But anyway, with that script and that lead, not much can go wrong.
alakimov The audience (fed up by the horrendous Hollywood crap), clearly was not able even to start appreciating the pure elegance of the movie. Bill Murray enjoys himself, camera man likes his work, Rusian spies are charming. Rest of the cast are on par.The very end is fishy, but thats a comedy after all!I just could not believe my eyes when I saw a 6.2 rating for the movie. The is the most "French-like" (i.e. frivolous, not pompous, not a hint of a usual dull American humor) American comedy I ever saw.Those who like the Ground Hog Day, will appreciate the irony, ease and elegance.