Timing is everything, especially when you’re in a high-stakes job that could make or break the world. But what do you do when the timing just isn’t on your side? That’s precisely the pickle Harry Tasker found himself in. Just as he started to suspect that his wife might be stepping out with another man, he got hit with a mission that couldn’t be more critical. He needs to stop a terrorist organization called Crimson Jihad from sneaking nuclear warheads into the country.
Harry’s world was spiraling. On one hand, he had to save the day and prevent a catastrophic disaster. On the other, his personal life was crumbling, with doubts gnawing at him about his wife’s fidelity. “True Lies” might have been made on a modest budget, but don’t let that fool you. It still packs a punch, even 25 years later. This James Cameron action thriller is a must-see, with the bulky Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis leading the charge. Whether you’re streaming it for the first time or giving it another spin, it’s definitely worth your time. Trust me, this classic action flick is as thrilling now as it was back in 1994.
True Lies (1994) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:
What is Harry Tasker’s New Mission?
As told earlier, at the center of the story is Harry Tasker, a man who, by day, is a loving husband and sales representative but moonlights as a secret agent. His job description and portfolio include locating and stopping terrorist before they have a chance to put their evil plans in motion. At the start of “True Lies,” we see him sneaking into a high-profile and lavish party thrown by an Arab billionaire. Harry is there to break into the hosts’ personal computers and steal some heavily encrypted files. Even though things get haywire and bullets start to fly around, Harry manages to escape with the files. Little did Harry know in the days ahead, his personal and professional lives would test his mettle in ways he could not have imagined.
The files Tasker downloaded from the computer inform him about a man called Jamal Khaled, who has just wired 100 million dollars using shell companies and bogus accounts. Tasker believes that Jamal’s group has brought four nuclear warheads and is planning to sneak them into the US. Tasker flies to Rome to see Juno Skinner, a woman to whom Jamal paid some two million dollars in the guise of buying Persian antiques. However, before Harry can find anything, he is attacked by a trio of assassins headed by a terrorist called “Sand Spider.” Harry survives the attack, but the Sand Spider gets lucky and escapes.
Why Helen Tasker Was Seeing Another Man?
On the home front, Harry Tasker is married to Helen, and together, they have a spunky fourteen-year-old daughter named Dana. However, let’s be real—their marriage is stuck in a rut. It feels like one, or maybe both of them, have fallen out of love. Harry’s demanding job keeps him so busy that he can’t give Helen the attention she craves.
Take his birthday, for instance. He promised his family he’d be there for dinner, but he missed it. Helen was crushed, thinking things would never change. To make matters worse, it is revealed that Helen has been talking with a guy named Simon. When Harry shows up at her office and overhears their phone conversation, his heart shatters. He starts to suspect that Helen might be having an affair with Simon. The suspicion eats at him, making his already chaotic life more chaotic.
Since that day, Harry’s behavior changes, and he starts to entertain the idea that every word that comes from Helen’s mouth is a lie. To find out more, he taps Helen’s phone so he can hear all their conversations. Harry also tails Helen on the day she meets Simon and learns that Simon is a car salesman. Simon is a man who cites fake stories to women, lying to them that he is a secret agent so he can woo them.
Simon says that his next mission requires him to be a married man, and thus, he asks Helen to pose as his wife and accompany him to Paris. Things turn interesting when Harry shows up, donning a ski mask, and kidnaps both Helen and Simon. During the interrogation, Helen confesses that she is seeing Simon because she wants some danger and excitement in her life. What Helen says makes Harry realize his mistake, that he hasn’t been there for his wife.
What does Crimson Jihad Want?
Without revealing himself, Harry decides to make Helen’s life a little exciting and asks Helen to work for the government. Helen is also given the codename “Doris.” Unfortunately, things don’t go according to plan, leading to Helen and Harry getting kidnapped by Juno and the terrorists. Helen also learns that her sales representative husband is actually a spy working for the American Government. Helen and Harry are put on a plane and whisked to a secret location where the nukes are being kept. The nukes are armed, and the Crimson Jihad plans to detonate it on US Soil. The only way to stop it is by pulling all American forces from the Persian Gulf Area.
Sand Spider also threatens to blow up an Island to show the American Government that he is not to be taken lightly. The terrorists tie the couple up and inject Harry with a sort of truth serum to learn about his agency. However, Harry uses the skills he has acquired over the years to kill the guards and escape.
True Lies (1994) Movie Ending Explained:
Was Harry Able to Stop Sand Spider & Save Dana?
Earlier, we mentioned Sand Spider from Crimson Jihad is in control of four nukes and a plan to blow up US soil if his demands aren’t met. He’s even set his sights on an island in the Florida Keys to prove he’s not bluffing. When Harry gets rescued by Gibson, he immediately puts an APB on the van and alerts the White House about the looming nuclear strike. In a flash, the Navy scrambles their jets and takes out the bridge just in time to stop the warheads from reaching a populated area. Harry also saves Helen before her limo takes a dive into the river.
Just when it seems like things are finally looking up, Harry is told the bad news that the terrorists have taken Dana hostage. In addition, Sand Spider is holding the last nuke, using it as his bargaining chip to negotiate with the government. Dana steals the activation key to stop Sand Spider from killing millions of innocent people. Harry also jumps into the fray, which leads to an intense showdown that ends with Sand Spider’s death. As the film wraps up, Harry and Helen return to their everyday lives, but with a slight change. It is revealed that Helen has joined the agency and is now working alongside her husband. Finally, Helen gets the dose of danger and adventure she always craved.
