Totally underrated

Rating: 9/10 (21 March 1999)

It's always been a mystery to me why this picture has received such a bashing over the years as it is one of the most well choreographed, completely manic and FUNNY broad comedies ever made. In fact, under Spielberg's masterful direction, this picture tops its more immediate rivals "It's a mad mad mad mad world" and "The Russians are Coming The Russians are coming." Although some of the humor seems to be straining itself at times to achieve more than
just one laugh, the picture nevertheless features some
perfectly timed comedic moments and spot on jokes and sequences that seem to breeze over most non film buff's heads. How could you not love that tribute to John Ford for instance and his own brand of slapstick when the brawl breaks out between the sailors, soldiers and marines in the USO and spills out into Hollywood boulevard. A movie just oozing 40's detail and familiar Spielbergian elements. I hope he regards it secretly with some affinity and not as the failure most critics have painted it. We all who love it KNOW it's a GREAT piece of comedy and worthy of classic status.