Undercover Blues
Encyclopedia
Undercover Blues is a 1993
movie about a family of secret agents, starring Kathleen Turner
and Dennis Quaid
. The film was written by Ian Abrams
and directed by Herbert Ross
.
) while being called back into service to combat a psychotic Czech arms dealer (played by Fiona Shaw
).
) is devoted to her husband Jeff, their daughter Louise Jane (Jane is uncomfortable with naming her daughter after herself), and starting the new chapter in their lives. She can be quite charming or very mercenary, depending on what is called for in a situation. It is her call to take on the assignment involving Novachek, and only after negotiating a six-month leave with bonus of 50% annual pay to put toward Louise Jane's college fund. Though Jane is the more sensible one, she is always ready to back up Jeff in wisecracks or fights (He considers her the more dangerous in hand-to-hand combat). She is fluent in several languages, adept at picking locks, and expert in firearms and martial arts.
Jefferson "Jeff" Blue (Dennis Quaid
) is devoted to his wife Jane, their daughter Jane Louise, and starting the new chapter in their lives—sort of. Having been thrown out of the FBI twice, and the CIA once, Jeff can't help teasing and trading tall tales with everyone he meets. When he asks Jane why he never gets to be the bad cop during an interrogation, she retorts, "Because you can never keep a straight face." Jeff is also not above taking on what he considers "zero-risk" ventures, such as foiling an armed bank robbery or taking on muggers in a knife fight with daughter in tow. He generally doesn't use firearms, as he is a poor shot (He had to blackmail an FBI official to qualify at the firing range.) He is fluent in several languages, an able fighter, an expert interrogator, and master strategist, able to size up any situation and come up with the perfect plan.
Paulina Novacek (Fiona Shaw
), former head of the Czech Secret Police
, left Prague
two jumps ahead of the firing squad at the end of the Cold War
. Since Czechoslovakia
has no extradition, Novachek can only be arrested if she goes back voluntarily. She has since become an international arms dealer who steals weapons and chemicals to sell to terrorists. Though Novachek has the appearance of a vain and silly countess who surrounds herself with henchmen, she is as dangerous and unstable as the experimental "C-22" plastic explosive
she has recently stolen from the United States Army
. She has encountered the Blues once before when they disrupted her operation in Budapest
.
Muerte (Stanley Tucci
), a cheap mugger
who preys on tourists in New Orleans' French Quarter
, fancies himself to be a fearsome outlaw
to the point of adopting the alias of "Muerte," the Spanish word for "death." He can be often heard shouting, "My name is Muerte! My name is death!" His weapon of choice is a switchblade
, which he brandishes as a sword. Having committed a number of muggings with his partner Ozzie (Dave Chapelle), he has the bad fortune to encounter Jeff Blue who is out with his daughter for an evening stroll. Though Jeff readily complies to their demands for his wallet and watch, Muerte is incensed that Jeff shows no fear of him, and continually calls him "Morty." His constant attacks usually leave him unconscious and missing a tooth, as he stalks the Blues for revenge.
Lieutenant Theodore "Ted" Sawyer (Obba Babatundé
) and Detective Sergeant Halsey (Larry Miller
) of the New Orleans Police first encounter the Blues after the foiled mugging, though Jeff denies any involvement. Sawyer takes an instant dislike to the Blues, particularly Jeff, who insists on calling him "Ted," instead of "Lieutenant." Halsey, on the other hand, remains congenial and good-natured to a fault. As the Blues pursue Novacek, Sawyer and Halsey attempt to keep up.
Vern and Bonnie Newman (Tom Arnold
and Park Overall) are a vacationing couple with their baby boy Jonathan in the same hotel as the Blues. The Newmans find the Blues to be exciting and charming, and have no idea to their true identities, despite being told point-blank that the Blues are former spies. Vern and Bonnie bicker constantly, even taking opposite sides on naming the Blues' baby daughter.
Frank (Richard Jenkins
) is the Blues' agent handler for an unnamed covert organization. Though Frank threw a baby shower
for the Blues and got them a Fisher-Price
Barnyard (which Jeff plays with constantly), he keeps them in mind when the C-22 is stolen, reminding them, "You said if we were ever in a critical situation... you'd help out a little." An indication of how valued the Blues are as agents is that the White House
sent a crib blanket to the baby shower.
Jane Louise (or Louise Jane) Blue (Michelle Schuelke) is a bright and happy 11-month old who seems unfazed by knife fights and gun battles. At Jeff's insistence, the Blues find that she has a taste for jambalaya
. Jeff hints several times that their daughter will learn the family business, such as when they break into a dead man's house during the night: "See Mommy picking the big lock? Someday, when you're a big girl, she'll teach you how to pick locks."
1993 in film
The year 1993 in film involved many significant films, including the blockbuster hits Jurassic Park, The Fugitive and The Firm. -Events:...
movie about a family of secret agents, starring Kathleen Turner
Kathleen Turner
Mary Kathleen Turner is an American actress. She came to fame during the 1980s, after roles in the Hollywood films Body Heat, Peggy Sue Got Married, Romancing the Stone, The War of the Roses, Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Prizzi's Honor...
and Dennis Quaid
Dennis Quaid
Dennis William Quaid is an American actor known for his comedic and dramatic roles. First gaining widespread attention in the 1980s, his career rebounded in the 1990s after he overcame an addiction to drugs and an eating disorder...
. The film was written by Ian Abrams
Ian Abrams
Ian Abrams is an American television writer and producer, and, with Pat Page and Vik Rubenfeld, co-creator of the CBS TV series Early Edition, although he did not write any produced episodes of the series except the pilot and was only on the writing staff of the show during its first year...
and directed by Herbert Ross
Herbert Ross
Herbert Ross was an American film director, producer, choreographer and actor.-Early life and career:Born Herbert David Ross in Brooklyn, New York, he made his stage debut as Third Witch with a touring company of Macbeth in 1942...
.
Plot
Turner and Quaid play Jane and Jefferson Blue, a wise-cracking couple of spies for an unnamed U.S. covert organization on maternity leave in New Orleans with their baby daughter whom they dote on, though they are unable to agree on whether her name should be Louise Jane or Jane Louise. With the baby's arrival, they have decided to move on to "Chapter Two" of their marriage, retiring from field assignment in an attempt to give their daughter a normal life. However, events continually conspire to draw them back into their old lives, including fruitless attacks by a frustrated mugger (played by Stanley TucciStanley Tucci
Stanley Tucci is an American actor, writer, film producer and film director. He has been nominated for several notable film awards, including an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, for his performance in The Lovely Bones...
) while being called back into service to combat a psychotic Czech arms dealer (played by Fiona Shaw
Fiona Shaw
Fiona Shaw, CBE is an Irish actress and theatre director. Although to international audiences she is probably most familiar for her minor role as Petunia Dursley in the Harry Potter films, she is an accomplished classical actress...
).
Characters
Jane Blue (Kathleen TurnerKathleen Turner
Mary Kathleen Turner is an American actress. She came to fame during the 1980s, after roles in the Hollywood films Body Heat, Peggy Sue Got Married, Romancing the Stone, The War of the Roses, Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Prizzi's Honor...
) is devoted to her husband Jeff, their daughter Louise Jane (Jane is uncomfortable with naming her daughter after herself), and starting the new chapter in their lives. She can be quite charming or very mercenary, depending on what is called for in a situation. It is her call to take on the assignment involving Novachek, and only after negotiating a six-month leave with bonus of 50% annual pay to put toward Louise Jane's college fund. Though Jane is the more sensible one, she is always ready to back up Jeff in wisecracks or fights (He considers her the more dangerous in hand-to-hand combat). She is fluent in several languages, adept at picking locks, and expert in firearms and martial arts.
Jefferson "Jeff" Blue (Dennis Quaid
Dennis Quaid
Dennis William Quaid is an American actor known for his comedic and dramatic roles. First gaining widespread attention in the 1980s, his career rebounded in the 1990s after he overcame an addiction to drugs and an eating disorder...
) is devoted to his wife Jane, their daughter Jane Louise, and starting the new chapter in their lives—sort of. Having been thrown out of the FBI twice, and the CIA once, Jeff can't help teasing and trading tall tales with everyone he meets. When he asks Jane why he never gets to be the bad cop during an interrogation, she retorts, "Because you can never keep a straight face." Jeff is also not above taking on what he considers "zero-risk" ventures, such as foiling an armed bank robbery or taking on muggers in a knife fight with daughter in tow. He generally doesn't use firearms, as he is a poor shot (He had to blackmail an FBI official to qualify at the firing range.) He is fluent in several languages, an able fighter, an expert interrogator, and master strategist, able to size up any situation and come up with the perfect plan.
Paulina Novacek (Fiona Shaw
Fiona Shaw
Fiona Shaw, CBE is an Irish actress and theatre director. Although to international audiences she is probably most familiar for her minor role as Petunia Dursley in the Harry Potter films, she is an accomplished classical actress...
), former head of the Czech Secret Police
Secret police
Secret police are a police agency which operates in secrecy and beyond the law to protect the political power of an individual dictator or an authoritarian political regime....
, left Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
two jumps ahead of the firing squad at the end of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
. Since Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
has no extradition, Novachek can only be arrested if she goes back voluntarily. She has since become an international arms dealer who steals weapons and chemicals to sell to terrorists. Though Novachek has the appearance of a vain and silly countess who surrounds herself with henchmen, she is as dangerous and unstable as the experimental "C-22" plastic explosive
Plastic explosive
Plastic explosive is a specialised form of explosive material. It is a soft and hand moldable solid material. Plastic explosives are properly known as putty explosives within the field of explosives engineering....
she has recently stolen from the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. She has encountered the Blues once before when they disrupted her operation in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
.
Muerte (Stanley Tucci
Stanley Tucci
Stanley Tucci is an American actor, writer, film producer and film director. He has been nominated for several notable film awards, including an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, for his performance in The Lovely Bones...
), a cheap mugger
Robbery
Robbery is the crime of taking or attempting to take something of value by force or threat of force or by putting the victim in fear. At common law, robbery is defined as taking the property of another, with the intent to permanently deprive the person of that property, by means of force or fear....
who preys on tourists in New Orleans' French Quarter
French Quarter
The French Quarter, also known as Vieux Carré, is the oldest neighborhood in the city of New Orleans. When New Orleans was founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the city was originally centered on the French Quarter, or the Vieux Carré as it was known then...
, fancies himself to be a fearsome outlaw
Outlaw
In historical legal systems, an outlaw is declared as outside the protection of the law. In pre-modern societies, this takes the burden of active prosecution of a criminal from the authorities. Instead, the criminal is withdrawn all legal protection, so that anyone is legally empowered to persecute...
to the point of adopting the alias of "Muerte," the Spanish word for "death." He can be often heard shouting, "My name is Muerte! My name is death!" His weapon of choice is a switchblade
Switchblade
A switchblade is a type of knife with a folding or sliding blade contained in the handle which is opened automatically by a spring when a button, lever, or switch on the handle or bolster is activated A switchblade (also known as an automatic knife, pushbutton knife, switch, Sprenger, Springer,...
, which he brandishes as a sword. Having committed a number of muggings with his partner Ozzie (Dave Chapelle), he has the bad fortune to encounter Jeff Blue who is out with his daughter for an evening stroll. Though Jeff readily complies to their demands for his wallet and watch, Muerte is incensed that Jeff shows no fear of him, and continually calls him "Morty." His constant attacks usually leave him unconscious and missing a tooth, as he stalks the Blues for revenge.
Lieutenant Theodore "Ted" Sawyer (Obba Babatundé
Obba Babatunde
Obba Babatundé is an American actor of stage and screen, known for his Emmy-nominated performance in the television movie Miss Evers' Boys, a NAACP Image Award-nominated performance in the TV movie Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, and a Tony Award-nominated role for his performance as C.C...
) and Detective Sergeant Halsey (Larry Miller
Larry Miller (actor)
Lawrence J. "Larry" Miller is an American actor, voice artist, comedian, podcaster, and columnist.-Early life:Miller was born in Valley Stream, New York, attended Valley Stream South High School graduating in 1971. He attended Amherst College...
) of the New Orleans Police first encounter the Blues after the foiled mugging, though Jeff denies any involvement. Sawyer takes an instant dislike to the Blues, particularly Jeff, who insists on calling him "Ted," instead of "Lieutenant." Halsey, on the other hand, remains congenial and good-natured to a fault. As the Blues pursue Novacek, Sawyer and Halsey attempt to keep up.
Vern and Bonnie Newman (Tom Arnold
Tom Arnold (actor)
Thomas Dwaine "Tom" Arnold is an American actor and comedian. He has appeared in many films, perhaps most notably True Lies . He was the host of The Best Damn Sports Show Period for four years.-Early life:...
and Park Overall) are a vacationing couple with their baby boy Jonathan in the same hotel as the Blues. The Newmans find the Blues to be exciting and charming, and have no idea to their true identities, despite being told point-blank that the Blues are former spies. Vern and Bonnie bicker constantly, even taking opposite sides on naming the Blues' baby daughter.
Frank (Richard Jenkins
Richard Jenkins
Richard Dale Jenkins is an American stage, film, and television actor. After beginning his career in theatre, Jenkins made his film debut in 1974, and appeared in supporting roles in numerous film productions in the 1980s and the 1990s. His breakthrough came in the 2000s for playing the deceased...
) is the Blues' agent handler for an unnamed covert organization. Though Frank threw a baby shower
Baby shower
In some countries, a baby shower is a way to celebrate the pending or recent birth of a child by presenting gifts to the parents at a party. The term "shower" is often assumed to mean that the expectant mother is "showered" with gifts.-Description:...
for the Blues and got them a Fisher-Price
Fisher-Price
Fisher-Price is a company that produces toys for infants and children, headquartered in East Aurora, New York. Fisher-Price has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Mattel since 1993.-History:...
Barnyard (which Jeff plays with constantly), he keeps them in mind when the C-22 is stolen, reminding them, "You said if we were ever in a critical situation... you'd help out a little." An indication of how valued the Blues are as agents is that the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
sent a crib blanket to the baby shower.
Jane Louise (or Louise Jane) Blue (Michelle Schuelke) is a bright and happy 11-month old who seems unfazed by knife fights and gun battles. At Jeff's insistence, the Blues find that she has a taste for jambalaya
Jambalaya
Jambalaya is a Louisiana Creole dish of Spanish and French influence. -Jambalaya varieties:Jambalaya is traditionally made in three parts, with meats and vegetables, and is completed by adding stock and rice. It is also a close cousin to the saffron colored paella found in Spanish culture...
. Jeff hints several times that their daughter will learn the family business, such as when they break into a dead man's house during the night: "See Mommy picking the big lock? Someday, when you're a big girl, she'll teach you how to pick locks."