In Hopscotch, when Walter Matthau's older CIA agent is relegated to a desk job, he goes rogue and tears through the Western world always one step ahead of the Firm to show just what an experienced agent can do. He's not dangerous, he's just trolling the political director who wanted him to retire from the game. The result is an always amusing romp, with Matthau having loads of fun, delivering great lines, and playing pranks on armed professionals. It's nice balance of witty dialog, clever spins off familiar tropes, and paranoid danger put me in mind of Charade, and indeed, I almost did a double-take when I realized this was made in 1980. It seemed far more old-fashioned than that, in a "they don't make them like this anymore" kind of way, but I'm glad that in 1980 at least, they still did.
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aussieflickfan
I love this film. Imagine a chase film with an older, funnier James Bond who doesn't kill people and lives by his wits - this is it.Siskoid
In Hopscotch, when Walter Matthau's older CIA agent is relegated to a desk job, he goes rogue and tears through the Western world always one step ahead of the Firm to show just what an experienced agent can do. He's not dangerous, he's just trolling the political director who wanted him to retire from the game. The result is an always amusing romp, with Matthau having loads of fun, delivering great lines, and playing pranks on armed professionals. It's nice balance of witty dialog, clever spins off familiar tropes, and paranoid danger put me in mind of Charade, and indeed, I almost did a double-take when I realized this was made in 1980. It seemed far more old-fashioned than that, in a "they don't make them like this anymore" kind of way, but I'm glad that in 1980 at least, they still did.Joel__henry
Awesome movie. Was introduced to it when I was young by my dad and have been showing it to friends ever since.Casting was excellent and the story is superb
Duke of Omnium
Walter Matthau gets to play a genial, disingenuously bumbling spy, and does it brilliantly. Even the Glenda Jackson romance is credibleBlocho
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpCrWUt4zSEdaisyaday
http://www.imdb.com/video/hulu/vi3481639961/ninrutgib
I agree with ClassicLady. It was just ok. Not sure why it's in the Criterion Collection. Nothing particularly special about it.ClassicLady
Eh, it was ok.