Caroline Kava, Jacob Vargas, Loretta Devine

The same year that River Phoenix made Running on Empty, in which he played the son of '60s radicals on the run from the law and hiding in plain sight, he also made this film, which is even less...( read more  read more... ) interesting than the vastly overrated Running. And, in this one, he plays a kid whose parents are, in fact, deep-cover Soviet moles (oops, the Berlin Wall is coming down--bad timing there) who are about to be brought to the surface. But Sonny Boy is being indoctrinated by a kindly FBI agent (Sidney Poitier)--and is torn between battling those dirty Commies and helping them because those dirty Commies are Mom and Dad. As silly as it sounds, building to an ersatz action finale. --Marshall Fine

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48% liked it

4,487 ratings

PG, 98 min.

Directed by: Richard Benjamin

Release Date: January 1, 1988

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DVD Release Date: September 17, 2002

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Stats: 118 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (118)


  • July 11, 2009
    Finds out his parents are spies. Great plot.
  • July 4, 2009
    usually not a fan of sidney poitier but was here and it's the first time i've really seen river phoenix in anything, and it's a shame he's dead coz he seemed like a good young actor, almost a bit ballsy like edward furlong the first time i saw him in terminator 2
  • January 1, 2007
    Good movie
  • July 25, 2009
    damn River why did you have to OD? I cannot believe him and Joaquin have the same DNA
  • February 6, 2009
    A decent film of 80s with great performance of Sidney Poitier and River Phoenix. I can't believe they were that old (60) and that young (17) respectively in this film.
  • January 6, 2009
    The plot line is slightly unbelievable, however, it is still interesting and there are a few surprises along the way. Slightly confusing at times, however Sidney Poitier and River Phoenix deliver good performances.
    Not bad, but a little disappointing.
  • January 3, 2009
    well umn just seen this movie 4 the 1st time n think that this is a strange movie 2 watch but its ok 2 watch....i think that sidney poitier n river phoenix both play good parts throughout this movie,,,its a good action/adventure/mystery/suspense movie 2 watch because you never kn...( read more)ow what 2 expect throughout this movie...i think that river phoenix was good as nikita throughout this movie...i think that the fight scenes/the gun shoot outs throughout this movie its a good movie 2 watch because you never know what 2 expect throughout this movie n its a enjoyable movie 2 watch as well
  • September 7, 2008
    Well-crafted, old-fashioned espionage story about the awakening of "sleeper" agents. Sidney Poitier is fabulous as the FBI agent tracking the situation.
  • August 8, 2008
    Sindey Poitier is funny...It's a great movie.River Phoenox was great in it.
  • July 29, 2008
    really entertaining! and it was filmed in my home town with river phoenix, so what's not to love? (:

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