Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
A fearless, globe-trotting, terrorist-battling secret agent has his life turned upside down when he discovers his wife might be having an affair with a used car salesman while terrorists smuggle nuclear war heads into the United States.
True Lies is a genuinely singular action-comedy hybrid — James Cameron blending espionage spectacle with domestic farce in a way that remains largely unreplicated. The Harrier jet finale and the tonal audacity of mixing marital comedy with terrorist thriller give it strong Novelty. The plot is entertaining but episodic and somewhat disposable, relying on contrivance. Acting is game and charismatic (Schwarzenegger, Curtis, Paxton all deliver) but not transcendent. Cinematography is polished blockbuster work — competent and kinetic but not especially distinctive visually. The ending delivers satisfying action closure but wraps things up a bit too neatly.