Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986)

Jumpin’ Jack Flash is one of those delightful 1980s genre mash-ups that works because it has a secret weapon: Whoopi Goldberg, firing on all cylinders with a kind of lived-in charisma that makes every wisecrack and moment of panic feel human. Penny Marshall keeps the pace snappy as the movie slides from workplace comedy into a playful, pulpy spy-thriller, with computers and coded messages turning everyday life into an unexpected adventure. The suspense is real but never grim, and the romance and humor bubble up naturally as Terry tries to stay one step ahead of people who suddenly take her very seriously. It’s not for viewers who want a hard-edged espionage film or pristine plotting, but if you’re on the fence and you like your thrills with a big, mischievous grin, this one is easy to recommend.

Jumpin’ Jack Flash is clearly trying to mash up a fish-out-of-water comedy with a Cold War espionage thriller, using early computer messaging as the hook, and on paper that’s a fun Penny Marshall playground for Whoopi Goldberg. The problem is the story often feels like it’s making things up as it goes, with a muddled plot, familiar beats, and stretches where the “thriller” side turns tedious instead of tense. Goldberg’s charisma and energy do a lot of heavy lifting, and there are scattered laughs and a couple of enjoyable set pieces, but she can’t fully save a script that keeps tripping over itself. If you want a tight, clever spy caper or a genuinely swoony romance, this may disappoint; if you’re here mostly for Whoopi being Whoopi in an ’80s time capsule, you’ll get the best version of what the movie offers.