Spy Hard

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Spy Hard ★ 1996 (PG-13)

Nielsen does yet another genre spoof—this time a combo of “Die Hard” meets James Bond. Agent Dick Steele aka WD40 (Nielsen) is brought out of retirement to thwart the plans of crazed General Rancor (Griffith) for world domination. Not much else plot-wise, which ropes Nielsen along in domino fashion through the myriad of unimaginative spoofs on such films as “Speed” and “Pulp Fiction.” Minus the charm and pace of parody pioneers Zucker/Abrahams/ Zucker, this latest entry should retire the whole genre. Directorial debut of Friedberg. 80m/C VHS, DVD. Leslie Nielsen, Nicolette Sheridan, Andy Griffith, Charles Durning, Marcia Gay Harden, Barry Bostwick; D: Rick Friedberg; W: Rick Friedberg, Dick Chudnow, Jason Friedberg, Aaron Seltzer; C: John R. Leonetti; M: Bill Conti.