Stretched for laughs

Rating: 4/10 (29 April 2005)

Just after the attack on Pearl Harbour, hysterical erupts in America and a small coastal town. As they believe that the Japanese are going to bomb America next, which causes a lot of havoc in the Californian town by the incompetent military and the eager locals.
This is an over-the-top and quite noisy broad comedy by director Steven Spielberg. I wouldn't class this a great or smart parody on the anxiety and fear of war. This extravaganza was leaning more towards clunky stupidity, but it had enough enjoyable moments and ''some'' fair performances to keep you riveted. Though, actually the opening scene in the film does have a great spoof on ''Jaws'', but mostly they are far and in between many unfunny scenes. The film just came across as overblown nonsense.
Quite an expensive budget was given to Spielberg for this film and you can tell. With the in-your-face special effects, the raging destruction, loud explosions and a stack of stars from the era. Well, some of these stars were wasted in obscure and humourless roles or actually lack of a role because there was probably too many involved. Though Aykroyd, Pickens (the best two parody performances), Allen, Lee, Stack, Betty and Belushi (definitely the worst performance) try to make the most of their characters, but they just can't make up for flat and uninspiring direction, inept script and story.
The film kind of limped along in the last hour and the slapstick humour started to wore thin. It was lacking wit and satire to make entirely entertaining. The direction lacked execution and the plot is nothing more than a mess of skits and gags. With some comical situations being dragged on for far too long, becoming a bit tiresome (especially Belushi's gags). As well the two hour running time of the film doesn't help the plodded pace and lack of story.
The many stars that appear ranged from Dan Aykroyd as the informative and quite spirited Sgt. Frank Tree and his tank, John Belushi as the daft Capt. Wild Bill Kelso, Christopher Lee as the demanding Nazi Capt. Wolfgang Von Kleinschmidt, Nancy Allen as the exquisite Donna Stratton with a airplane fetish, Tim Matheson as the desperate Capt. Loomis Birkhead desperately trying to get laid by Stratton, Ned Betty as the obsessed gun-ho local Ward Douglas, Lorraine Grey as Mrs. Douglas, Robert Stack as the down-to-earth Maj. Gen. Joseph W. Stilwell, Warren Oates as the whack-out Col. 'Madman' Maddox who believes he is under attack by the Japanese, Slim Pickens as the hilarious Hollywood and the under-used John Candy as the bumbling Pvt. Foley.
While the look of the film is an added plus. Not bad location setting and the special effects are eye candy, with some superb action scenes. The sound effects also has good amount of impact and the score was fair. Though, overall all of it just doesn't gel together and so it becomes quite a botch.
For me it ranks along aside 'The Lost World: Jurassic Park '97' as his weakest film.
This is a truly uneven film by one of the greatest directors, but still worth a look if you're a fan of his.