Real Men

Over the last couple of weeks, I've been rewatching Three's Company, and remembering what a talent John Ritter was. Even though in film he worked with such legendary filmmakers as Peter Bogdanovich and Blake Edwards, he had more success on the small screen. My favorite starring role of his was also one of his most overlooked, 1987's Real Men.

When a top secret agent is killed in the line of duty just before a big mission, the CIA finds someone who looks just like him to send on the assignment. Unfortunately, their doppelganger is a meek, pencil pusher by the name of Bob Wilson, Ritter. The agency sends in renegade agent Nick Pirandello, James Belushi, to teach Bob the ropes. At first, Bob thinks Nick is full of it, till he begins to realize that the fate of the world lies in his hands.

This might sounds like your typical buddy action comedy, but it almost plays like a spoof of that genre. Both Ritter and Belushi are very good in their roles and play off one another really well. This isn't just Ritter's best starring role, but Belushi's as well.

There's a lot of laughs in to be had in this underappreciated spy comedy.

It's available on dvd and blu ray.