Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
Terry works for a bank, and uses computers to communicate with clients all over the world. One day, she gets a strange coded message from an unknown source. After decoding the message, Terry becomes embroiled in an espionage ring. People are killed, and Terry is chased. Throughout, she remains in contact with this mysterious person, who needs Terry's help save his life.
Jumpin' Jack Flash is a fairly formulaic mid-80s spy comedy that leans heavily on Whoopi Goldberg's charisma to carry a thin, predictable plot. The espionage storyline is generic and the pacing uneven, with the script never fully committing to either comedy or thriller. Goldberg's comedic energy elevates the acting score above the material, but the supporting cast is unremarkable. Cinematography is workmanlike at best, typical of mid-budget 80s studio output. Novelty is low — the fish-out-of-water everyman-caught-in-espionage premise was already well-worn by 1986, and the film adds little distinctive to the genre. The ending resolves safely and predictably without much payoff.