A British secret agent, marooned behind the Iron Curtain with no way out, taps into a computer at the Manhattan First National Bank in search of help. Fortunately for him, but not always for us, the operator of that other computer is Whoopi Goldberg. Much of the action requires her to be alone on screen and talking to herself, and she can't seem to do that without behaving as if she is in front of a Carnegie Hall sellout. (Her best "bit" -- listening to the Rolling Stones' title tune in search of a clue -- is a nice comment on the intelligibility of rock lyrics and their articulation.) The plot, oddly enough, is enjoyable when the jokes don't get in the way, with an inventive use of computers as vehicles to a pen-pal relationship, and with a predictable but satisfying face-to-face payoff. With Stephen Collins, Carol Kane, and John Wood, and cameos by Michael McKean, Tracey Ullman, and Jonathan Pryce; directed by Penny Marshall. (1986) — Duncan Shepherd
This movie is not currently in theaters.