Animal House Goes To War -- Big Budget Comedy Noir

Rating: 4/10 (11 September 2005)

Do not forget to remember that this is supposed to be SATIRE, otherwise you may find "1941" to be a rather crude, over-extended joke. With US military personnel more interested in "gettin' some" than in defending America, it becomes clear immediately that priorities are considerably confused. Two of the lead characters in particular seem hormone-raged and obsessed with "scoring".
Considered by many an overlooked Steven Spielberg Classic, I agree only with the technical aspects. Visually and acoustically stunning, the macabre handling of serious historical subject matter and often repelling actions of bullies make this a less than "great comedy" for me.
Viewing this film on the now-obsolete laser disc format was a visual treat, mainly due to the lavish cinematography and brilliant score. Sadly, I do not intend to view this film a second time. For fans of the original SNL, the roles portrayed by John Belushi, Dan Aycroyd and other not-ready-for-prime-time players is an added bonus. Not enough for me, sorry.