This film is a new mess.

Back in the day, the networks would gather together the stars of various shows and make a TV movie. They would then show the movie during the Sweeps Months, to get a little extra boost in their ratings.
This was one of those movies - having stars of MASH, Night Court, Cheers, Love Boat, the Greatest American Hero, they were joined by unknowns (I wonder what ever happened to that Clooney character?); as well as a couple of B-List movie stars.
And this one is VERY Dated - well sort of dated. It plays into the "Communist Russians are Bad; American is good" fears of the 80's Cold War. (Now, take out the Communist part and it could be still true).

I remember watching this a lot as a kid - Dad had it saved on a VHS tape, along with Crash Course, Poison Ivy, and Dancing til Dawn. But after 1989, I cant remember the time I watch this since.