The Ambushers

America's answer to the James Bond craze in the mid-sixties was the camp of Derek Flint and the hilarious and sexy adventures with Dean Martin as Matt Helm.

In 1967, the third Helm adventure, THE AMBUSHERS hit theaters and you can feel the fingerprints of OO7's "You Only Live Twice" all over it. Released the same year, it manages to sneak in a flying saucer, a mountaintop lair and some of the goofiest scenes of the secret agent film era.

It's also sexy as hell, very much of it's time and an absolute fun blast from the past.

This time out, an evil criminal mastermind in Acapulco ("oh good!" you can hear producer Irving Allen squealing, "there are a LOT of blondes and bikinis in Acapulco!!") named Ortega (Albert Salmi) and his henchman Quintana (Kurt Kasnar) are out to steal the USA's new state-of-the-art flying saucer.

Yep, you read that right. And after it's piloted into the atmosphere by gorgeous astronaut Shiela Sommers (Janice Rule), Ortega steals it and her, bringing it down to his island. Wait, isn't that the exact plot of "You Only Live..." oh nevermind.

Helm is called into action, which seems to consist of one third shooting bad buys with one bullet, one third drinking cocktails and one third bedding whatever gorgeous woman is standing next to him.

On that front, the producers and casting director have done an amazing job, collecting a fantastic group of "Slaygirls" dressed to kill anyone who gets in Helm's way.

Martin seems to be having so much fun here in Mexico, that you cannot help but have fun too. My face hurt from smiling at the goofy humor that could be dropped right into Austin Powers, the madcap fights and shootouts and the horrific special effects that look like that flying saucer is landing on Gilligan's Island.

The second helm film, "Murderer's Row" was a weak effort, slapped together after the box office bonanza of "The Silencers", but the third time's charm or dumb, DUMB luck.

Senta Berger is stunning as Francesca Madeiros, whose poison lipstick has taken out plenty of agents with a license to kill.

Beverly Adams is back and as gorgeous as ever as Helm's personal assistant, Lovey Kravesit, America's version of Pussy Galore. James Gregory is also back as Helm's boss "M", oh I mean, MacDonald.

If you are a young snowflake who cannot comprehend that there are actually films made before you were born, in a time of different comedic sensibilities, you should avoid this or expect therapy.

Every woman is stunning, ready to jump into bed with Helm, while battling the bad guys with the best of them. I cannot think of another actor who could have played this role in this style. Martin is funny as hell, definitely in on the joke and having a blast.

Surrounded by these women in Acapulco, with a drink in hand, how could you NOT have a great time?

Some think this is the worst of the Matt Helm flicks. As a huge Austin Powers aficionado with with personal memories of watching this one with my Dad, who LOVED all the Helm flicks, its one of the best for me in the sheer audacity of its goofy attitude.

Hugo Montenegro's music is like finding a 1967 club record and popping it on the turntable. WOW does it take you back. The lyrics of the title song are just plain stupid and I loved it. Montenegro scored the TV classic of the era "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." and he knows how to accompany big action scenes as well.

Bond fans will note a scene that was directly ripped off for Roger Moore's magnetic watch and a dress zipper in 1973's "Live and Let Die".

I lost count if there are more seduction or action scenes, but Dean hits bullseyes either way. To open and close the film, he gets down to business by putting on his own "Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime" hit record. He also manages to sneak in a great Sinatra dig as the final credits roll.

Put on your grooviest outfit and settle in with THE AMBUSHERS, surely one of silliest secret agent films of all time. With Martin at the helm, everything's cool baby. It gets a nostalgic B from this corner, with fond memories of watching it with my Dad and seeing how much fun he was having from Dean-O's first martini to the last.