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McHale's Navy (1997)

McHale's Navy (1997)

List Price: $9.99
Your Price: $9.99
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Could use some 'Fiddling' With
Review: A fairly good, and funny, little movie that sometimes lacks pace. MCHALE'S NAVY is well-cast and acted out, but, as I said, is rather slow in too many scenes.

Great when you see it the first time...second time: "Hey, let's fast-forward this to this part..." Many movies are no fun to watch over and over and over again, and this just happens to be one of them.

But, Tom Arnold, Tim Curry, and David Alan Grier keep the movie somewhat interesting and entertaining. Arnold's the perfect hero...Curry's the perfect villain, and Grier's the perfect...well, maybe perfect isn't the word...he's a hoot, though!

Local bootlegger, Quinton McHale gets an unwanted reunion with former rival Vladikof, the world's SECOND best terrorist. That's basically what the movie's about; their conflicts.

All-in-all, fairly safe for kids over 8. More explosions than profainity.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Watchable,but not too rewatchable! worth a rental first!
Review: For fans of Tim Curry,Tom Arnold or Bruce Campbell you will be happy with the loosely based movie on the 1960's sitcom. This a video that can be watched once in a while!If you really want to see it(and not buy it) check out your local library,blockbuster or any other video rental store? Also why is this not on DVD! Where's the soundtrack! I liked the songs but where can I find the soundtrtack! Also in this movie both Tim Curry and Tom Arnold have goatees(until Arnold rejoins the Navy).The only violence is a few explosions and some swearing! The orginal McHale(Ernest Borgnine) also appears as Pentagon brass visiting the area!Look for the special relationship between Tom Arnold and Ernest Borgine at the end of the movie! I wont give it away! So run down to your local library,blockbister or other video store before buying this movie! It's also very child friendly so the whole family can watch it! Please Universal can you put this movie on DVD in the near future?

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Kinda Corny, but it's pretty dang good!
Review: I enjoyed this movie immensley, I almost didn't watch it because I thought it wouldn't be that great due to the others reviews, but I really like it and plan on buying it VERY soon!
The one thing I don't like about it is in the beginning theres at least 7 references to sex, and after that about 2 more in the middle of the movie. BUT, other than that, the movie rocks.
I don't know why no one finds this movie funny, maybe it's me, I usually go for those nutty-don't make that much sense-comedy movies.
Tom Arnold was great playing McHale, the other actors did good too but I have to say Tim Curry as Vladikov (The second best terrorist in the world *rolls eyes*) really made the movie, he's so funny and brought a lot more greatness to the movie than the others did. I loved his eastern european accent, kinda sexy ;-) (of course his voice is sexy all together.)

*Ahem* Anyway, if you're anything like me, you'll like this movie. But in case you're not, rent it first. Just in case.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Funny, but flawed.
Review: I liked this movie and I don't care who knows it. The thing that ruined it was why is there only one women in this film? And of course being the only women on in this film she has to endure harrassment. This is a real problem in the military today and should be taken seriously. The rest of the movie was funny and strange. Tim curry is so annoying though.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Best Comedy from Tom Arnold
Review: I love this movie, Its really funny, but also has some cool action sequences. I think it's Tom Arnolds best movie since True Lies. I really would like to see this released on DVD though!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Avoid this like the Black Plague.
Review: If you are interested in viewing this tripe.I would recommend instead to go outside,and if you have grass growing in your yard,to watch it grow.Because,that is about how good this work of cinema is.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Very funny thoughtless humor
Review: If you're in the mood for a comedy that requires no thought, this is it. The single lines are hilarious if you let them be. It has a "Billy Madison" type humor. Dont go into it expecting the 60's version. This is new and different. We'd like to have the DVD, but we're still waiting.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: An OK film
Review: Okay, I admit, I saw the film because Bruce Campbell is in it. He does a great job, and the film is very funny, just a little hard to swallow.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: very entertaining, but re-viewability may not be too high.
Review: the characters are enjoyable to watch. a good movie for Tim Curry fans, Tom Arnold fans, or Bruce Campbell fans... as their characters are played out very well. great writing, fantastic direction, and the acting is fun to watch because the actors seem to have genuinely enjoyed doing this movie. the only thing is, this may only be a "rental" for most people... not a "buyer". check it out at your local block-buster or family video first, you may be pleasently suprised.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: It was like they never ever watched the original TV series
Review: The television series "McHale's Navy" aired between "Sgt. Bilko" and "Hogan's Heroes," and all three of these military situation comedies had in common the fact that the leader of each little group played outside the rules and an expert con artist. But there was also the idea that Bilko, McHale, and Hogan were also the smartest men around, which explained how they were able to get away with so much. With "McHale's Navy" you had the Oscar winning actor Ernest Borgnine in the role, with Tim Conway and Joe Flynn providing comic relief. This is a tried and true formula: if you look at the early years of "M*A*S*H" you will find the same situation, with Hawkeye and Trapper running rings around their commanding officer and a pair of troublesome majors. However, this formula is totally jettisoned in this 1997 theatrical film that is so bad it makes you wonder how the original series lasted four years.

Tom Arnold did a surprisingly good job as Arnold Swarzenegger's right hand man in "True Lies," but in this film he is taking a step backwards to the character he played on "Roseanne." Not that he was bad in that role, but that is not the character of McHale. With Arnold in the role you get the feeling he is ahead of the game, not because he is smarter than the others, but mainly because they are so stupid. Nor does casting Dean Stockwell as an even more moronic Captain Binghampton seem like a good move either. However, even this move looks pretty good compared to the decision to give McHale a pet pig...

The story is set in today rather than back in World War II, with McHale retired in the Carribean; which explains why anybody is still piloting a PT boat around. But this means that McHale and his crew are no longer part of the system that they were always bucking, which is another nail in the comic premise of this film when compared to the television show. We then have Tim Curry as Maj. Vladikov, a Russian terrorist, who is out to get McHale. I would not think comedies about terrorists were particularly funny back then, so this film fails on two scores in that regard. But I really cannot get beyond the fact that the names are kept the same, but pretty much everything else has changed beyond recognition.

Ironically several well-known television stars are running around in supporting parts. David Alan Grier plays Ensign Parker this time around, and his take on the character is at least different enough not to be totally insulting. Debra Messing is the film's female lead, Lt. Penelope Carpenter, and French Stewart has the old Gavin McLeod role of Happy. Borgnine makes the token appearance by a original cast member, so there is at least that one moment where you get to smile at something that happens in this sad little film. "McHale's Navy" is the film that proved that no film version of a television sit com could be so bad that Hollywood would stop making them.


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