It's no secret: there are more than a few laughs to be had.

Rating: 7/10 (8 September 2018)

Of course, there are some problematic moments in 'Top Secret! (1984)'. This is almost, but not quite, inevitable when when looking back on a comedy from the 1980s. Here, the odd joke doesn't just fall flat, it gives off slightly uncomfortable vibes. Yet, this isn't an issue as persistent or as pertinent as you might expect and the picture is, on the whole, a generally good-humoured and frequently funny spoof of both the WWII spy genre and the Elvis movie. What's so sorely missed in 'parodies' of today is a plot because, no matter how basic it may be (whether this, in and of itself, is part of the satire or otherwise), a narrative means that the movie can be watched independently of the thing it mocks, rising to become a comedy picture in its own right that's essentially just as funny for those unaware of the thing it takes aim at (though it is, of course, all the more successful for those who are). It's just this that allows this piece to be a silly, somewhat low-rent but undeniably humourous satire that feels as though laughs are its top priority but a story is its second. Look, I'm not claiming it's a masterpiece, but I chuckled more than a few times and was always entertained. 7/10