Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986)

28% of critics liked it
(18 reviews)
55% of users liked it
(46,001 ratings)

Penny Marshall in her feature film directing debut, four screenwriters, and a ebullient Whoopi Goldberg join forces to make Jumpin' Jack Flash, a modern espionage comedy. Goldberg plays Terry Doolittle, a computer operator in a large New York City bank who picks up a cry of help on her computer. The… More Penny Marshall in her feature film directing debut, four screenwriters, and a ebullient Whoopi Goldberg join forces to make Jumpin' Jack Flash, a modern espionage comedy. Goldberg plays Terry Doolittle, a computer operator in a large New York City bank who picks up a cry of help on her computer. The signal is from a man who signs off as Jumpin' Jack Flash. Based on the Rolling Stones tune of that name, she figures out his secret password and opens up a Pandora's box of international intrigue. It seems Jack Flash is a pseudonym for a British agent who is trapped in Russia and desperate for information from the British Embassy that will help him escape. When Terry agrees to help him, the CIA, the KGB, British intelligence, and sundry other law enforcement organizations are all hot on her tail as she tries to help the beleaguered British agent. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 38 min.
Directed By: Penny Marshall
Genres: Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense, Comedy

In Theaters: Oct 10, 1986 Wide
On DVD: Jun 1, 2004
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

James Plath, Movie Metropolis
Lightweight but fun civilian-spy stuff.
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum
Good concept. Horrible movie.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Still Penny Marshall's least annoying movie
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
doesn't fully capitalize on Whoopi's comedic gifts

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

Lucas M

A Hitchcock plot, that is very good. But the screenplay don't help. Too silly to be good.
Lenny M

Whoopi!! Not really that funny. She needs eyebrows.
Lady D

A fun spy comedy, with a typical 80?s feel to it. Whoopi Goldberg is her usual overtalking fun self and the film makes for easy watching.
Cindy I

I figure if I saw a film and the only thing I remember about it was that I saw it, I couldn't have been very impressed.
Jason S

Whoopi is funny in this flick which is funny but really close to being an action flick.
Candy R

Whoopi has to help a spy via computer.
xGary X

Yet another woeful outing for Whoopi, this time a "comedy" spy film. She's a one trick pony, and the projects she chose to get involved with are uniformly awful. Don't bother.
danny d

decent whoopi flick
Dean M

Good comic spy caper with Whoopi Goldberg the programmer getting messages from an agent on her terminal.
Deb S

This is a hilarious movie about a bank employee who loves to play around with her computer and chat with people from different countries which often get her in trouble with her boss. One day she comes into contact with a mysterious British Intelligence agent who calls himself… More
This is a hilarious movie about a bank employee who loves to play around with her computer and chat with people from different countries which often get her in trouble with her boss. One day she comes into contact with a mysterious British Intelligence agent who calls himself "Jumpin' Jack Flash" who seems to be great danger. Terry tries to help her new friend out - but by doing so puts her own life in danger and this places bad guy Jeremy Talbot (John Wood) on her tail and gets her into a whole lot of hilarious trouble!! I found it funny and entertaining; Whoopi Goldberg puts in a great performance and the rest of the cast work well together. "Earl, look at this face. This is the face of a woman on the edge." "I know, my wife has that same face."
Daniel P

A nostalgic classic that I'd happily re-watch. I especially loved the ITV-censored version, replete with bizarre english-accented dubbing of "freaking" over Goldberg's "fucking". <p><i>"Not the crotch!!"</i>
Lee K

meh....

Read all 12 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Whoopi Goldberg as Terry Doolittle

            Stephen Collins as Marty Phillips

            Jonathan Pryce as Jack

            John Wood as Jeremy Talbot

            James Belushi as Sperry Repairman

            Carol Kane as Cynthia

            Annie Potts as Liz Carlson

            Peter Michael Goetz as Mr. Page

            Roscoe Lee Browne as Archer Lincoln

            Sara Botsford as Sarah Billings

            Jeroen Krabbé as Mark Van Meter

            Vyto Ruginis as Carl

            Tony Hendra as Hunter

            Jon Lovitz as Doug

            June Chadwick as Gillian

            Tracey Ullman as Fiona

            Garry Marshall as Detective

            Kim Chan as Korean Flower Vendor

            Teagan Clive as Russian Exercise Woman

            Kenneth Danziger as Embassy Computer Man

            Anthony Hamilton as Man in Restaurant

            Eric Harrison as Embassy Computer Man

            George Jenesky as Man with Umbrella

            Carl Labove as Earl The Guard

            Matt Landers as Night Guard at Bank

            Kellie Martin as Kristi Carlson

            Tom McDermott as Minister

            Miguel A. Núñez Jr. as Street Tough

            Julie Payne as Receptionist at Elizabeth Arden

            Tracy Reiner as Page's Secretary

            Jose Santana as Street Tough

            Jamey Sheridan as N.Y. Officer

            Lynne Marie Stewart as Karen

            Paxton Whitehead as Lord Malcolm Billings

            Chino "Fats" Williams as Larry the Heavyset Guard

            Ren Woods as Jackie

            Bob Ernst as Street Tough

            Bobcat Goldthwait
            
            Phil Hartman
            
            Michael McKean as British Party Guest (uncredited)

            Deanna Oliver as Karen at Elizabeth Arden

            Gerry Connell as Lincoln's Aide

            Edouard de Soto as Superintendent

            Caroline Ducroca as French Embassy Guest

            Charles Dumas as N.Y. Officer

            Benji Gregory as Harry Carlson Jr.

            Jeffrey Joseph as African Embassy Guest

            Heide Lund as Woman in Restaurant

            Donna Ponterotto as Pedicurist at Elizabeth Arden

            J. Christopher Ross as Hairdresser

            Mark Rowen as Blond Cab Driver

            Hilaury Stern as Customer

            James Edgcomb as Licoln's Aide
See full cast

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