Spy Hard (1996) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

WD-40 is the name of a popular industrial lubricant, and the filmmakers chose it as a parody of typical spy code names. The name itself is a joke, reflecting the film's spoof tone of James Bond-style codenames. In the movie, this absurd naming convention is played for laughs, fitting the comedic parody genre.

• wd-40
• dick steele
• code name
• spy parody

Victoria Dahl was Dick Steele's former girlfriend and fellow agent who died during his last encounter with General Rancor. She triggered an explosion on Rancor's helicopter to help Steele escape, but lost her balance and fell to her death. Barbara Dahl, the kidnapped agent Steele is sent to rescue, is Victoria's daughter, making this personal mission for Steele.

• victoria dahl
• barbara dahl
• steele love interest
• daughter

Rancor acquired his robotic legs after a confrontation with Dick Steele fifteen years prior to the movie's events. During a failed arms deal, Steele caused injuries that necessitated Rancor's robotic leg replacements, which are equipped with weapons. This backstory explains both Rancor's personal vendetta against Steele and his enhanced dangerousness.

• general rancor
• robotic legs
• steele past
• injury

Veronique Ukrinsky (Agent 3.14) is initially sent by Rancor as a femme fatale to eliminate Steele. However, she reveals her true identity as a KGB agent when she discovers her father Professor Ukrinsky has been kidnapped by Rancor. She switches sides and becomes Steele's ally after realizing they're fighting the same enemy.

• veronique ukrinsky
• agent 3.14
• kgb agent
• alliance

Miss Cheevus, The Director's secretary, is revealed to be Rancor's mole. She had been secretly working undercover for the villain, relaying information about the control chip to Rancor. This betrayal puts Steele and his team in grave danger when she alerts Rancor to their plans.

• miss cheevus
• mole
• traitor
• director secretary

The computer chip is a powerful device that can control all of the world's satellites. Rancor demands it as ransom for Barbara Dahl, planning to use it for global domination. If he doesn't receive it within 36 hours, he intends to launch a missile with Barbara attached to destroy the USA instead.

• computer chip
• satellite control
• global domination
• ransom

In the final confrontation at Rancor's Kirkiri Island base, Steele frees the hostages and discovers Cheevus is the mole. He then binds Rancor to his own missile and reprograms it to fly into space instead of toward Earth. This destroys the satellite control system while neutralizing Rancor, saving the world.

• rancor defeat
• missile
• space
• final battle

Steele is called out of retirement because Barbara Dahl was kidnapped while investigating Rancor's lair, and the Covert Operations Center needs their best agent for such a critical mission. Additionally, Steele has a personal connection, he dated Barbara's mother Victoria, who died during his previous encounter with Rancor.

• retirement
• Barbara Dahl kidnapping
• mission
• personal stake

Steele's last mission before retirement involved protecting the President of the United States. He panicked when he mistook popping champagne corks for gunshots and accidentally drove the Presidential limousine into a water-filled bridge. Steele only saved himself by using his swimming skills, leaving him embarrassed and reluctant to return to the field.

• president
• champagne
• bridge accident
• trauma

Professor Ukrinsky is Veronique's father who went missing after collaborating with General Rancor. He possesses the control chip for the satellites, having kept it for its potential to maintain peace. Steele finds a pendant left by Professor Ukrinsky as a clue to locate him, but both Professor Ukrinsky and McCluckey get kidnapped by Rancor's forces.

• professor ukrinsky
• control chip
• veronique father
• kidnapped