If Looks Could Kill (1991)

33% of critics liked it
(6 reviews)
43% of users liked it
(6,231 ratings)

Television flavor-of-the-month Richard Grieco made his feature-film debut in this juvenile spoof of James Bond films. He plays a high-school senior named Michael Corben who has flunked out of his French class, but has the chance to make up his grade on the French Club's summer trip to Europe. On the… More Television flavor-of-the-month Richard Grieco made his feature-film debut in this juvenile spoof of James Bond films. He plays a high-school senior named Michael Corben who has flunked out of his French class, but has the chance to make up his grade on the French Club's summer trip to Europe. On the airplane booked to transport the French Club to France is another man by the name of Michael Corben, and this man happens to be a super-spy. When he is killed, the hapless high-school senior is mistaken for the real spy by British intelligence. He becomes involved in a mad plot by Augustus Steranko (Roger Rees) in which Steranko and his evil assistant Ilsa Grunt (Linda Hunt) plan to dominate the European continent by converting the gold standard to coins that will bear Steranko's likeness. Corben goes along with it when he is provided with a red sports car, a tuxedo, and some high-tech weapons. Along with all the spy accouterments, he latches onto a sexy helper -- Mariska (Gabrielle Anwar). ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 28 min.
Directed By: William Dear (II), William Dear
Genres: Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense, Comedy

In Theaters: Jun 1, 1991 Wide
On DVD: Aug 14, 1991
Studio: Warner Home Video

Critic Reviews

Clint Morris, Moviehole
A hip, fun and fantasticaly-paced teen 007

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Anthony L

I remember this film when it first came out, I remember loving the concept but hating the way Richard Grieco played it. Arrogant and annoying but quite typical at the time. It was called Teen Agent in the UK.
Wahida K

He's a student mistaken for a spy. Now all he has to do is rescue a beautiful girl, save all of Europe, and graduate from high school. No problem?
Dean M

An okay action-packed of a high-school student mistaken for an undercover secret agent.
RJ M

Here's a little gem of a spy spoof that is better than all the Austin Powers movies put together. This movie has story, humor, and action, whereas Austin Powers had fart jokes. Richard Grieco plays a high school student (let your suspention of disbelief start there) who is… More
Here's a little gem of a spy spoof that is better than all the Austin Powers movies put together. This movie has story, humor, and action, whereas Austin Powers had fart jokes. Richard Grieco plays a high school student (let your suspention of disbelief start there) who is mistaken for an international spy while on a school trip to France. From there he gets pulled into an international conspiracy involving villians Roger Rees and Linda Hunt. He also gets some help from the de-lic-ious Gabrielle Anwar as a covert operative. The movie is far more credible than it sounds. It's a great spoof of Bond movies, with good humor and likeable characters. What it also has is a surprising amount of action. Credible action, not ham handed. We've got chases, shootouts, and fight scenes worthy of the genre it is spoofing. There's also gadgets clever enough to make James Bond say "Where can I get one of those?" It's not high art by any means, and is not likely the high point of anyone's career. It's hopelessly dated, firmly stuck in 1991. But it's a hell of a lot of fun.
Anthony V

Male fantasy movie. Females, beware.

Cast

            Richard Grieco as Michael Corben

            Linda Hunt as Ilsa Grunt

            Roger Rees as Augustus Steranko

            Robin Bartlett as Mrs. Grober

            Gabrielle Anwar as Mariska

            Geraldine James as Vendetta Galante

            Michael Siberry as Richardson

            Carole R. Davis as Areola Canasta

            Frederick Coffin as Lt. Col. Larabee

            Tom Rack as Zigesfeld

            Roger Daltrey as Blade

            Oliver Dear as Kent

            Cyndy Preston as Melissa Tyler

            Paul Babeau as French Club Member

            Jon Baggaley as Ian

            Rob Bazos as French Club Member

            Chip Chuipka as Gunman #1

            Michele de Meo as French Club Member

            Susan Dear as 1st Class Hostess

            Pascal Devigne as Second 1st Class Stewardess

            Tedd Dillon as Imposter Driver

            David J. Francis as Englishman

            Claude Gasse as Imperious Stewardess

            Marie-Josée Gauthier as Coach Stewardess

            Macha Grenon as Clerk #2

            Iris Gressy as French Club Member

            Maxine Guess as French Club Member

            Laurent Imbault as Croupier

            Armand Laroche as Doorman

            Donna Ludas as French Club Member

            Gene Mack as Agent Kramer

            Bonfield Marcoux as Bus Driver

            Gordon Masten as Ludwig Krupp

            Nancy McGiffert as French Club Member

            Gerry Mendecino as Herb

            Dominique Pétin as Clerk #1

            Carolyn Raymond as French Club Member

            Fiona  Reid as Marge

            Peter Shinkoda as French Club Member

            Michael Sinelnikoff as Haywood

            Philip Spensley as Principal

            Travis Swords as Kelly

            John Tench as Cell Guard

            Jacques Tourangeau as Lefevre

            Isabelle Truchon as 1st Class Stewardess

            Michael Vinokur as Brad

            William Dear as Bomb Tester

            Sharon Howard-Field
            
            Marion Dougherty
            
            Carole Davis
            
            Cynthia Preston
            
See full cast