True Lies (1994)
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tom Arnold, Tia Carrere
Primary genre: Action
Secondary genre: Comedy
Nominated for: Best visual effects
James Cameron’s most forgotten movie before he begun dealing with a sinking ship and some blue aliens, “True Lies” based on the French film “La Totale!” (1991) was the most expensive flick ever back in 1994 due to its groundbreaking special effects and larger than life pyrotechnics used in several outrageous proceedings. No stranger in shooting epic (and innovative) action, Cameron’s follow up to his globally successful and award winning “Terminator 2: Judgement Day” (1991), a sequel that set the bar extremely high for action and science fiction movies as well as naturally plot progressing sequels, has the same elements (i.e., Arnie, guns, aggressive stuntwork, explosions, violence) yet it is tonally a different beast altogether.
Purists might find its genre shifts annoying, others will sit back and enjoy the superb comedic chemistry of Curtis and Schwarzenegger which makes you wonder why these two never shared the big screen again. Cameron’s clear adoration for spy shenanigans is evident ticking every cliche he can think of winking at us at the same time through an overwhelming amount of extremely-hard-to-believe antics. Where else will you see Arnie swimming in a frozen lake, hiding an impeccable tuxedo underneath his swim suit and speaking French? Scenes like these might be the cause of some eye rolling, yes, but “True Lies” is not a documentary and neither it aspires to be one. Quite frequently the plot is just an excuse to develop some hilarious sequences and whether these are employed through the traditional tropes of villain chasing or the misunderstandings in Harry’s and Helen’s wedding, it matters not.
“I married Rambo!”
As a spectacle, it is remarkable and entertaining, no doubt about it. Cameron manages to switch gears between high octane action and comedy effortlessly. It is really though towards its second half though where “True Lies” well, truly reveals itself with Jimmy mentioned that this is ultimately a film about a broken marriage. While its pace dips half way through to make way for Harry’s and Helen’s problems, you will either dig it or hate it. Arnie is solid a role perfectly suited for him but it is Curtis who threatens to steal the show as the neglected housewife of a successful “salesman” who is never at home and desires a bit of a thrill in her monotonous life. Her involvement in an alleged spy plot much to Harry’s displeasure threatens to sidetrack the whole thing although simultaneously it offers the opportunity for extensive comedy mainly due to a funny Bill Paxton performance.
Curtis’ psychological and “dodgy” turmoil she is being put through could invoke the wrath of feminists in this modern era but it is all part of two dishonest individuals anyways; and thank the cinematic gods because her dance scene is now the stuff of legend due to Curtis’ stunning body and natural moves. Such human characters provide the ludicrous story with meat even if the movie falls short on the villain department; Middle Eastern terrorists are simply caricatures to be used for target practice while a stunning Tia Carrere is wasted after her breakout success in “Wayne’s World” (1992).
Bypassing though all the context about double lives, failed marriages and suburban daily routine, Cameron’s action sequences here are first rate and larger than life. Even those that are initially small in scale, can be easily considered the finales of other major Hollywood productions. Boasting a few raised eyebrows in terms of how they managed to pull them off (although they are a number of shots where Arnie is … too flexible and lean)- a horse chase and a bathroom fight feel particularly grandeur and fresh, the Canadian workaholic goes ballistic in the final act blending limousines, airplanes, helicopters, trucks, a hefty amount of baddies, bridges and a high rise building in an explosive sandbox that would make Michael Bay. This was the go to action movie in 1994 and if you could compare it with, let’s say, “Stargate”, “Blown Away”, “The Specialist” or “Clear and Present Danger”, it would be unfairly comparing a bunch of ants to a tarantula.
“True Lies” could be described as a circular series of cool, explosive and (very) funny moments that aim to please the eyes and not necessarily the soul under a state of the art production. Surprisingly, Cameron and his protagonist duo emerged unscathed in an OTT storyline which would have sunk others of lesser talent. Grab a big pop corn and enjoy 2.5 hours of pure entertainment. You won’t find anything like this in our era.
Bombastic and hilarious blockbuster
+Amazing stuntwork
+Explosions, action!
+The horse chase is pretty entertaining
+Arnie/Jamie’s chemistry
+Jamie Lee Curtis is amazing
-Obvious stunt doubles
-Tonally uneven
-Cardboard villains