In Like Flint (1967)

Such a frustrating disappointment

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

The Americans have launched a new space platform. The President enjoying his success on the golf course is kidnapped and replaced with a double by the feminist organization Fabulous Face. The head of Z.O.W.I.E. Lloyd Cramden (Lee J. Cobb) is suspicious noticing 3 minutes of time missing when they were gassed. Derek Flint (James Coburn) agrees to take the case. Cramden is tricked into a scandal by operative Lisa Norton (Jean Hale) and the fake President sidelines him.James Coburn continues not to be funny. This franchise desperately needs an actual comedian at its head. Talking to dolphins could be funny but the best this movie can get to is silly. The idea of an evil feminist organization holds some possibilities. However the girls are nothing more than pinups and have limited charisma of their own. I just compare it to Leslie Nielsen doing Naked Gun and it's no contest. That may not be fair comparing different time periods. This is three years after Dr. Strangelove and it definitely fails in that comparison too.

If you ever wondered about how the film series like Austin Powers came to be inspired, James Coburn does a memorable performance as Flint, original man of mystery in this film. The film is a spoof and farce from the James Bond spy thrillers. The plot includes the world being overthrown and manipulated by smart beautiful seductive women on a Caribbean Island where their leader is played by Anna Lee (General Hospital's beloved Lila Quartermaine). She is fantastic in her role. The film is a comedy and a statement about women's movement. The ending is now considered to be outdated by today's standards almost camp humor. Still, James Coburn did some of his best acting work here as the hero. The film is colorful and imaginative as well.

I watched "In Like Flint" (cool title) not long after watching its predecessor "Our Man Flint" but was similarly underwhelmed. Yet again, just about the only reason for watching it is James Coburn's cool persona in the title role while the several reasons for not watching it include a literally hair-brained plan for women to take over the world by means of hairdressing/brainwashing appliances, Lee J Cobb hamming it up as Flint's boss and of course the decade long tradition of using scantily-clad women as eye-candy. The stunts are nothing special, the mock-up of the orbiting space craft resembles nothing so much as a rotating thimble while fight scenes are tame in the extreme. Perhaps like the camp classic 60's T.V. Series of "Batman", the aim was the same, namely to get the audience to laugh at, as much as with the characters, with all the actors in on the joke.I just don't think this was the best way for Hollywood to rip-off, sorry, take inspiration from the successful James Bond series, the over the top approach hardly helping the movie appeal to latter-day audiences. Coburn gets one great accidentally prescient line "An actor...as president?" and otherwise stroll through the film in cool clothes. He was wise not to make a third entry in the series.

"In Like Flint" is a sequel to the spy parody film "Our Man Flint" starring James Coburn. It posits an international feminist conspiracy to depose the ruling American patriarchy with a feminist matriarchy. To achieve and establish it, they kidnap and replace the U.S. President, discredit the Head of the Z.O.W.I.E. intelligence agency, and commandeer a nuclear-armed space platform, all directed from Fabulous Face, a women's spa in the Virgin Islands. Circumstances compel ex-secret agent Derek Flint to help his ex-boss, and so uncover the conspiracy. Actors James Coburn and Lee J. Cobb reprise their roles as "Derek Flint" and spy chief "Lloyd C. Cramden", Flint's ex-boss.Like all parodies, it's not fair to compare it to the original genre and you have to expect it to be at least somewhat silly - especially in this film the plot of feminists trying to take over the world. The last reviewer who gave it a low score obviously totally missed t.he point it's a parody It's a fun movie that moves along at a fast & Coburn is great in the James Bond spoof role. Enjoy the film & don't take it too seriously & you'll have a fun ride.