Top Secret! is secretly the greatest action movie (kinda)

Okay, hear me out. "Top Secret!" might be a spoof, and yeah, it leans HARD into the Zucker, Abrahams, and Zucker brand of insane comedy, but underneath all the backwards talking and rubber chickens, there's some surprisingly solid action choreography going on. I mean, Val Kilmer's Nick Rivers is basically a one-man army at times. Remember the scene in the "Western" Saloon? The fight is played for laughs, sure, but the actual punches and kicks look pretty damn convincing. And the way they incorporate props like the beer steins and the swinging doors isn't just funny, it's cleverly staged. Think about it: they're spoofing spy movies, right? So they're taking the tropes of those movies – the impossible escapes, the hand-to-hand combat, the daring rescues – and exaggerating them to the point of absurdity. But to sell that absurdity, you need to ground it in something that's actually believable as an action scene. They're not just flailing around; there's real intent and some decent stunt work happening. Even little things like the way Rivers slides across the bar or dodges bullets – there's a commitment to making it look like he's actually in danger, even though we know it's all a joke. And honestly, that's why it still holds up. The jokes are timeless because they're built on a foundation of well-executed physical comedy and a genuine understanding of the action movie genre it's lampooning. It's not just random gags; it's a deconstruction of action movie clichés, delivered with impeccable timing and a healthy dose of slapstick. Plus, the underwater scene? The practical effects still crack me up. I think people underestimate how much physical work actually goes into a movie like this. Makes me wonder if the directors of this and Airplane! ever considered directing legit action films. They had the chops! Look, I'm not saying it's "Die Hard", but next time you watch "Top Secret!", pay attention to the action sequences. You might be surprised by how much genuine effort went into them. For a comedy, it has some truly impressive stunts and choreography. Maybe "secretly" isn't the right word. Perhaps it's more accurately "underappreciated" as an action comedy. I still like it tho.