139 reviews
If everything is a joke, then the action never becomes exciting, and you just have to sit through the explosions.
When you run away from bad guys, shooting at you, if you argue with your wife at the same time, it illustrates that the bullets are not real and the danger is not real.
That means, the audience disengages on the action. Which is okay, if the humor is good. I mean - it can be done. Castle and Burn Notice was fun. Mixing action and humor.
But alas - the humor is not really funny. We laughed in the movie because Arnold was a real action star with big muscles. This guy and this girl are just some people in some situation whom we have no relation to.
To get better comedy, be more serious.
When you run away from bad guys, shooting at you, if you argue with your wife at the same time, it illustrates that the bullets are not real and the danger is not real.
That means, the audience disengages on the action. Which is okay, if the humor is good. I mean - it can be done. Castle and Burn Notice was fun. Mixing action and humor.
But alas - the humor is not really funny. We laughed in the movie because Arnold was a real action star with big muscles. This guy and this girl are just some people in some situation whom we have no relation to.
To get better comedy, be more serious.
It started ok I guess, at least it hooked me in to give it a chance with a few more episodes, but now I'm done. The stories and dialogue are infantile, something I'd expect a fifth grade drama class to come up with. I'm a fan of most of the actors in the series, but they are all starting to get annoying, especially Ginger Gonzaga as the wife, who's character has become unbearably annoying and unconvincing to the point of cringe. Her acting feels fake and forced, and out of character for any wife in this type of situation, especially the idea of being recruited and put in the field as she was. It's just plain cheesy, unbelievable and unwatchable. The constant split-screen directing has become annoying, and most of the camera work is cheesy with the attempt to have fancy visuals. Even the action scenes are poorly choreographed and have an amateur-hour feel to them. Thus behold, another Paramount flop in the works. I'll be shocked if this makes it to a second season.
- Top_Dawg_Critic
- Mar 15, 2023
- Permalink
- soniaquebec
- Mar 2, 2023
- Permalink
Not going to be able to continue past episode 1. Some of these newer shows are just not a formula I am interested in. The casting of this is tiring, as the characters do not have chemistry or synergetic intrigue. This does not carry any of the fun or charm of the movie, and it lacks a foundation that will provide entertainment in general, from what I can tell. After 42 minutes, it is clear this is a roughed-in action comedy loaded with hi-tech bafoonery marketed to someone looking for light-weight mindless action and modern social queues. Seems like its secondary goal is to induce humor with the action.. perhaps this will please some other viewers, but I'll pass.
- HorrorFilmHellion
- Mar 1, 2023
- Permalink
- carey-941-755692
- Mar 1, 2023
- Permalink
- WeWatchMovies
- Mar 16, 2023
- Permalink
I agree with some of the other reviewers that this show could use a smidge more seriousness-- but not too much. I enjoyed the show for what it is, though. It's a silly spy show. If you think of it as anything more than that, you're missing the point.
This is escapism. Turn off your brain and just enjoy it.
The acting is so-so. But again... silly. So, they say silly things to forward the spy-couple goofiness.
The situations are barely believable. But again... silly. The point (at least in the pilot) is to put them in ridiculous situations.
The bad guys aren't particularly scary. They're about as good a shot as a storm trooper. But again... silly. They aren't supposed to be good at what they do.
We'll see how this goes. Scorpion-- which had a similar vibe-- lasted a few seasons.
This is escapism. Turn off your brain and just enjoy it.
The acting is so-so. But again... silly. So, they say silly things to forward the spy-couple goofiness.
The situations are barely believable. But again... silly. The point (at least in the pilot) is to put them in ridiculous situations.
The bad guys aren't particularly scary. They're about as good a shot as a storm trooper. But again... silly. They aren't supposed to be good at what they do.
We'll see how this goes. Scorpion-- which had a similar vibe-- lasted a few seasons.
Seems this series is relying completely on name recognition.... without even understanding why the original film was popular.
1) The film worked because Harry was a spy who had to lie to his family constantly..... and Helen was a rather clumsy housewife who felt bored and wanted more out of life. The series "jumps the shark" and blows up and dismisses this imperative plot aspect 10 minutes into the first episode.
2) Ginger Gonzaga... while I think she's a very competent actor.. does bring with her the "kiss of death" for network series. She's appeared in MANY series.. and NEVER had one be successful past 1, maybe 2, seasons. When she appears as a "guest star" in an existing series.. that series has generally been canceled that same season. Again, Ms. Gonzaga is a competent actor.. I don't know why she brings the curse with her, but she does.
3) The "little old lady" next door is so clichéd I think I hurt myself rolling my eyes too much.
4) D'Angelo is ruining what reputation she has here.... simply becoming unwatchable. I suspect cast for the name.. not her (now) gravel voice and wooden acting.
5) The stories in the first 2 episodes are just hack work.. unrealistic technology that SUDDENLY makes the impossible possible.
6) Characters, including Harry and Helen, are completely shallow and without ANY depth.
7) Helen discovers the spy thing in episode 1... in episode 2 she's sent on her first "mission". That's some stunningly rapid, and moronic, job advancement.
...fun drinking game.. drink every time "Jimena" is said in episode 2.. just plan on passing out before the show ends.
Has this series been written by ChatGPT???? It's got as much warmth and originality as ChatGPT output.
"Write me an action spy thriller with Harry as the primary spy working with Helen, his wife, who has just become a novice spy."
1) The film worked because Harry was a spy who had to lie to his family constantly..... and Helen was a rather clumsy housewife who felt bored and wanted more out of life. The series "jumps the shark" and blows up and dismisses this imperative plot aspect 10 minutes into the first episode.
2) Ginger Gonzaga... while I think she's a very competent actor.. does bring with her the "kiss of death" for network series. She's appeared in MANY series.. and NEVER had one be successful past 1, maybe 2, seasons. When she appears as a "guest star" in an existing series.. that series has generally been canceled that same season. Again, Ms. Gonzaga is a competent actor.. I don't know why she brings the curse with her, but she does.
3) The "little old lady" next door is so clichéd I think I hurt myself rolling my eyes too much.
4) D'Angelo is ruining what reputation she has here.... simply becoming unwatchable. I suspect cast for the name.. not her (now) gravel voice and wooden acting.
5) The stories in the first 2 episodes are just hack work.. unrealistic technology that SUDDENLY makes the impossible possible.
6) Characters, including Harry and Helen, are completely shallow and without ANY depth.
7) Helen discovers the spy thing in episode 1... in episode 2 she's sent on her first "mission". That's some stunningly rapid, and moronic, job advancement.
...fun drinking game.. drink every time "Jimena" is said in episode 2.. just plan on passing out before the show ends.
Has this series been written by ChatGPT???? It's got as much warmth and originality as ChatGPT output.
"Write me an action spy thriller with Harry as the primary spy working with Helen, his wife, who has just become a novice spy."
Looking at the poor reviews folks have given this show, I'm not sure what they were expecting. I was expecting a light, action-packed show that I could watch without spaining my brain. It's true that the leads don't have the amazing acting range of Arnold Schwarzenegger & Tom Arnold (I'm being facetious here, folks), but that's not why I watched it. I wanted to watch something that kept my attention & made me chuckle once in a while. This fit the bill. If I want to watch something that makes me ponder the meaning of life, I'll watch Meet John Doe! The folks that panned this movie are probably the same ones who buy a Camaro & complain it doesn't handle as well as a Ferrari!
- tommyonbike
- Mar 1, 2023
- Permalink
The show may not be the greatest, but it's a decent show to watch. The action isn't bad, and in an era where every show comes up with sort of complicated backstory or drama to everything that's going on, they seem to keep things moving and interesting. Is it the movie? Not really, but if that's what you want, go watch the movie!
But I don't believe for one minute this family is from Maryland. There is no Maryland flag decor in their house, not even a jar of Old Bay on the kitchen counter! They could of at least placed a Maryland flag on a staff hanging from the front of the house.
Maryland is a cult, not a state!
But I don't believe for one minute this family is from Maryland. There is no Maryland flag decor in their house, not even a jar of Old Bay on the kitchen counter! They could of at least placed a Maryland flag on a staff hanging from the front of the house.
Maryland is a cult, not a state!
- BlueCrab301
- Mar 27, 2023
- Permalink
In the first episode we learn that the wife speak suitable languages that just happen to be spoken by some goons, she can fight those goons no problems, and she can knock out said goons with her legs. Not to mention she is not scared, not very surprised and adopt so quickly to all situations that she looks like the super-spy and not her husband.
And of course the wife, Mary, last name Sue, also comes up with the best plans, is able to think quicker and better than her husband.
I lost complete interest after that one.
The show (first episode) is also badly written with awful dialogue.
With those big negatives out of the way I also need to mention that this has some charm and the idea is not too bad. This could easily been pretty good, but the writers decided that they wanted a bad show so I am moving on.
And of course the wife, Mary, last name Sue, also comes up with the best plans, is able to think quicker and better than her husband.
I lost complete interest after that one.
The show (first episode) is also badly written with awful dialogue.
With those big negatives out of the way I also need to mention that this has some charm and the idea is not too bad. This could easily been pretty good, but the writers decided that they wanted a bad show so I am moving on.
- namob-43673
- Mar 8, 2023
- Permalink
I really enjoyed the series. In fact I binged watched it in one day and wanted more. Love the four main characters, especially the husband and wife. Give it a try the more I watched it the more I was hooked. It's a comedy plus action. Without giving away any plots the husband and wife are such a cute couple and good chemistry. Another thing I liked about it was it didn't have a lot of cursing. Now a days action shows have constant cursing every few seconds and this series didn't. Awesome for the ones of us that get aggravated at movies and series that don't know how to keep constant cursing out so we can actually enjoy with our families.
- joette-67783
- Apr 1, 2023
- Permalink
Ok, if you could fet past the highly unlikely scenario that a soccer mom, who does yoga & kick-boxing as hobbies and who cooks dinner every night for her kids, could suddenly be accepted into her husband's totally covers, black-ops spy job so that they xan fly around the world catching/killing bad guys - this show is for you.
I like the husband (Steve. Howey) and wife (Ginger Gonzaga). They are a little funny. They work well together but Howey is more "Reba" in this show than Law & Order SVU. That was a strong character that could be believed as a spy.
The supporting character's in this show....aren't. And I just can't find a reason to keep watching.
I like the husband (Steve. Howey) and wife (Ginger Gonzaga). They are a little funny. They work well together but Howey is more "Reba" in this show than Law & Order SVU. That was a strong character that could be believed as a spy.
The supporting character's in this show....aren't. And I just can't find a reason to keep watching.
- sblakley-29243
- Apr 1, 2023
- Permalink
It is one thing to be campy, it is another.to transcend the Adam West Batman style, and only lacking the on screen "wow" "pow" cartoon bubbles.
There is no tension in threats or danger faced by the characters and you know they are going to survive anything with some idle banter and cliches. The missions they supposedly go on are imminent threats with huge consequences yet are engaged with simple-minded alacrity. A little darkness, drama, the potential consequences of actions would lend believability to an otherwise shallow narrative.
Omega's spy systems flourish with fancy digital stuff that makes it seem even more comical.
There is no tension in threats or danger faced by the characters and you know they are going to survive anything with some idle banter and cliches. The missions they supposedly go on are imminent threats with huge consequences yet are engaged with simple-minded alacrity. A little darkness, drama, the potential consequences of actions would lend believability to an otherwise shallow narrative.
Omega's spy systems flourish with fancy digital stuff that makes it seem even more comical.
- jeffkresse-814-345969
- Mar 1, 2023
- Permalink
So, the Our Gang kids are at Spanky's house watching TV and the movie True Lies comes on. They are very impressed. "Hey Darla, why don't *we* put on a play just like that?!" "Oh Spanky, I don't think we would be very good." "Don't worry Darla, we'll be just fine!" After 20 minutes of hard work and a couple of potty breaks, the gang has written their play, assembled their CGI effects, and are ready to perform. Other kids come to watch the show, but by the second act everyone has walked out. Strong words were heard from the audience (a "gosh darn" and two "patooeys"), but nobody was hurt, especially no animals. And that's really all you need to know about this series.
- TJ_McCarthy
- Mar 4, 2023
- Permalink
I've been writing Movie and TV reviews for Neilsen for 15 years, now retired. I remember with a chuckle the original True Lies staring Arnold and Jamie Lee Curtis as his frumpy wife. This show is truely PATHETIC! I'm 74, back in 1970 I was flying Huey's and OH-1's in Vietnam, and when I saw the "star" jump into a Helo, start it up in 5 minutes start flying my eyes rolled (it takes 20 to 40 min). Then they show the Helo "out of control, out of balance with a single WOMAN hanging from one skid, I was screaming at the TV "you have to be kidding!" This show is Written Badly, Researched Worse and Acted Abominably. It does not belong on TV or Cable, instead in the garbage.
- websterphreaky-77149
- Mar 8, 2023
- Permalink
When I heard of this series, I felt a sense of pending dread come over me; A Big Screen -to-Small Screen Disaster, surely...
The charm of the film could not possibly be replicated on tv because the central plot point of the film--Wife Helen being unaware of Husband Harry's real occupation--would swiftly wear thin in an on-going episodic series, ergo the plot was unsustainable over time. Case Closed. Game Over.
But...Surprise! The show did not try to replicate that plot element beyond the initial episode!
In fact, they show-runners made a wise decision in not attempting to slavishly duplicate the Big Screen True Lies, actively making alterations to the central characters; the tv Harry and Helen Tasker are different from the original movie characters.
From the start, it appears to be basically; 'Alias' with a sense of humor.
Time will tell if this gambit to carve their own 'True Lies' legend works out, but whether the series thrives on it's own character development, or drowns in mediocrity, at least it is trying.
But...Surprise! The show did not try to replicate that plot element beyond the initial episode!
In fact, they show-runners made a wise decision in not attempting to slavishly duplicate the Big Screen True Lies, actively making alterations to the central characters; the tv Harry and Helen Tasker are different from the original movie characters.
From the start, it appears to be basically; 'Alias' with a sense of humor.
Time will tell if this gambit to carve their own 'True Lies' legend works out, but whether the series thrives on it's own character development, or drowns in mediocrity, at least it is trying.
- heroforhire-19620
- Mar 14, 2023
- Permalink
I could not even get through a third of the show. The casting and acting is horrible; the script writing lame; The main couple has zero chemistry and it all seems forced.
Normally, I give a new series a few episodes to find its groove, but this is so trite and stupid, I don't think that I could watch another.
I was looking for some fun but got only cringe-worthy disappointement. So, I need to type more words for this review to be posted, but I have made my point, so I will only add that a fat and out of shape dude in the support van is stupid as any operator would be required to be in shape.
Normally, I give a new series a few episodes to find its groove, but this is so trite and stupid, I don't think that I could watch another.
I was looking for some fun but got only cringe-worthy disappointement. So, I need to type more words for this review to be posted, but I have made my point, so I will only add that a fat and out of shape dude in the support van is stupid as any operator would be required to be in shape.
- ghostingthevoid
- Mar 1, 2023
- Permalink
I'm giving this a 10/10 to spite all the people who are giving it a low rating & ripping it to shreds. I've only watched 2 episodes so far, but I am loving it! First of all, it's a TV SHOW. It's not real-life, so there will be some unrealistic scenarios. And the acting is not horrible like people are saying. I am loving the characters and Steve & Ginger do have chemistry and I'm constantly finding myself laughing because it is funny and humorous and enjoyable, and we don't need to have things be serious all the time. With our messed-up, crazy world, this is 45 minutes that takes me out of that and into the spy world, to save the world, despite how messed-up it is. Just sit back & enjoy. I will continue to do so.
- beautysleep59
- Mar 27, 2023
- Permalink
Too much of the dialogue is lame and/or unnecessary.
"You want to know what is icky? Shooting an innocent man in cold blood." Oh please, how many times has this group experienced that? And this is why they are bringing in the Wolf?
"I'll work with anyone who can stop that from happening again." Really? They are going to stop all innocent people from getting killed in cold blood?
"A driverless truck? I mean, these guys are into some next-level stuff." Lame.
"I just want you to try and watch him." Try and... still? When oh when will the ignorance stop!
From Grammar Girl - Try to Versus Try and "If you use 'and', as in -- I am going to try and call Grammar Girl -- you are separating trying and calling. You are describing two things: trying and calling. When you use 'try to' -- as in I am going to try to call Grammar Girl -- you are using the preposition 'to' to link the trying to the calling."
Another option that works in some cases is to skip try to -- I am going to call Grammar Girl.
From Benjamin Dreyer, Chief Copyeditor at Random House Publishing.
"If you try and do something, someone will immediately tell you to try to do it, so you might as well just try to do it so no one will yell at you." Dreyer, Benjamin. Dreyer's English (p. 164). Random House Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
As professional writers, we should work to make the language better.
"You want to know what is icky? Shooting an innocent man in cold blood." Oh please, how many times has this group experienced that? And this is why they are bringing in the Wolf?
"I'll work with anyone who can stop that from happening again." Really? They are going to stop all innocent people from getting killed in cold blood?
"A driverless truck? I mean, these guys are into some next-level stuff." Lame.
"I just want you to try and watch him." Try and... still? When oh when will the ignorance stop!
From Grammar Girl - Try to Versus Try and "If you use 'and', as in -- I am going to try and call Grammar Girl -- you are separating trying and calling. You are describing two things: trying and calling. When you use 'try to' -- as in I am going to try to call Grammar Girl -- you are using the preposition 'to' to link the trying to the calling."
Another option that works in some cases is to skip try to -- I am going to call Grammar Girl.
From Benjamin Dreyer, Chief Copyeditor at Random House Publishing.
"If you try and do something, someone will immediately tell you to try to do it, so you might as well just try to do it so no one will yell at you." Dreyer, Benjamin. Dreyer's English (p. 164). Random House Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
As professional writers, we should work to make the language better.
They took what was a fantastic movie, with a great concept, good humor and acting and pumped out this slop. It's G rated junk with terrible writing and acting. I couldn't even finish the episode, I knew I wouldn't ever watch this show again after the first 10 mins of the first episode. It follows in the steps of so many good shows with a great premise but the couldn't pull it off.
It needs to be dark, not a bunch of action scenes with jokes thrown in, there is no tension, no real danger, just a bunch of jokes.
Maybe it would be a good idea to let a chatbot write the episodes, it couldn't possibly do any worse.
It needs to be dark, not a bunch of action scenes with jokes thrown in, there is no tension, no real danger, just a bunch of jokes.
Maybe it would be a good idea to let a chatbot write the episodes, it couldn't possibly do any worse.
- mjschiller-105-313340
- Mar 31, 2023
- Permalink
If anybody had watched the original movie they would at least have had an inkling as to what to expect in a TV series. The people criticising this have no clue at all about the movie.
It was light hearted, it's meant to be, it was mediocre on the violence, it's rated PG for god's sake what were people expecting.
It even had a couple of decent laughs.
First episodes of series are purely for introducing characters whu=ich this did.
Most people who put reviews on IMDB shouldn't be allowed to watch TV and review it because they have no idea.
Looking forward to the next episode, here's hoping the whole series is as much fun as episode 1.
It was light hearted, it's meant to be, it was mediocre on the violence, it's rated PG for god's sake what were people expecting.
It even had a couple of decent laughs.
First episodes of series are purely for introducing characters whu=ich this did.
Most people who put reviews on IMDB shouldn't be allowed to watch TV and review it because they have no idea.
Looking forward to the next episode, here's hoping the whole series is as much fun as episode 1.
- funkymasks
- Mar 4, 2023
- Permalink
I watched the movie a few days ago. Found out about this show and thought this could further expand on some more action-comedy. But it was a disappointment. Firstly, the dialogue was not at all good, it was pretty generic and felt like written by a chatbot. No emotions whatsoever in any conversation.
The actors are not that good either. Their acting feels robotic and it feels that they are delivering the lines just to get through the script. The first episode itself was so bad I didn't had any interest left to continue to watch further episodes. I think the producers should have invested in better scripts and actors.
The actors are not that good either. Their acting feels robotic and it feels that they are delivering the lines just to get through the script. The first episode itself was so bad I didn't had any interest left to continue to watch further episodes. I think the producers should have invested in better scripts and actors.
- paulwalters-24
- Mar 1, 2023
- Permalink