I nice fun film to watch if you can get around Ned Beatty swearing all the time.Plot hole #1. Kendrick hires a single engine seaplane to fly from Georgia to Martinique. But changes destination to Bermuda. a small seaplane as pictured wouldn't have the range to get to either destination nonstop and no place to refuel in open water between U.S. and Bermuda. Also, even in 1980, a plane from U.S. would have to clear Bermuda customs, not just land at a resort.Plot hole #2. At the end, Kendrick after starting his bi-plane is in an open field with no visible cover. His plan was to fly it by remote control from some building. But he would clearly be seen by occupants of helicopter coming to catch him, so they would know he wasn't on the bi-plane.

Shrewd and rumpled veteran CIA operative Miles Kendig (marvelously played with crusty aplomb by Walter Matthau) gets demoted to a dull desk job. Disgruntled with this dismal situation, Kendig decides to strike back by publishing a tell-all memoir that exposes the innermost secrets of several major world intelligence agencies.Director Ronald Neame, working from a witty script by Brian Garfield and Bryan Forbes, relates the enjoyable story at a snappy pace, maintains an engaging tongue-in-cheek tone throughout, makes inspired use of classical music, and pokes wickedly droll fun at basic spy movie formula conventions (the sequence with a bunch of trigger happy agents destroying a house that they think Kendig is hiding in is an absolute riot!). The fine acting by the top-rate cast keeps this film buzzing, with especially stand-out contributions from Glenda Jackson as Kendig's feisty old flame Isobel, Ned Beatty as huffy, bumbling, foulmouthed superior Myerson, Herbert Lom as Kendig's suave and cagey Soviet nemesis Yaskov, Sam Waterston as the easygoing Cutter, David Matthau as the zealous, but inept Ross, and Severn Darden as the corrupt Maddox. The crisp widescreen cinematography by Brian W. Roy and Arthur Ibbetson provides an impressive elegant look. The various globe-trotting locations -- Austria, Germany, England, and so on -- supply a neat sense of scope. However, it's Matthau's utterly amiable shambling grace and wonderfully relaxed natural chemistry with Jackson which in turn gives this picture an extra additional appeal and energy. A total treat.

I doubt anyone will read this far into the reviews, but for the record I felt I had to contribute. We all of us watch many, many movies, and some of us feel motivated to review some or all of them no matter the quality. I HAD TO REVIEW THIS, despite the fact I seldom bother, for I genuinely feel it was a delight. Previous reviewers will provide the details, and for example, the first review by dbborroughs has it completely right: wholesome, intelligent fun that is so seldom achieved by more "modern" movies that seem compelled to add gratuitous violence, explosions, one-liners, etc. There are shortcomings that could be improved, of course, but in the end they don't matter. The viewer is left with a smile that didn't depend on potty jokes or shock tactics for stimulation. Brilliant. The overall work is a true gem. Enjoy!

This guy did more funny pictures than anyone. He should be in film class in the very first introduction. The Class title? Comedy 101.You wanna laugh? You wanna laugh again? Watch Hopscotch. This one is a keeper. You can't go wrong when Walter Matthau is an aging CIA man put out to pasture and he doesn't take kindly to it. That's OK though, he'll get his revenge. The way he makes fools of his former co-workers is just classic.I can't say enough about Mr. Matthau as a comedic actor. He just brought the goods. Maybe it's his "looks and acts like someone you know" way or he was just talented as hell. I think maybe it's both.