Legit farce

Rating: 9/10 (20 March 2017)

"Gentlemen, you can't fight in here. This is the war room!" One of the most quotable lines in movie history and also an encapsulation of "Dr. Strangelove" as a Cold War satire: abject buffoonery played with a straight face. This movie's a classic for great reason; the situations are absurd (and you know it's funny when the film's prefaced by an Air Force reassurance that it's all make-believe) and the best lines work so well because of the performances.
In that respect, it's fair to say this rests on the capable shoulders of Peter Sellers and George C. Scott. And here's the thing: Sellers deserves every bit of praise for his three different roles, allowing him to fully stretch his comedic wings. Mandrake and Muffley are amusing because of their restraint. That said, Scott's Buck Turgidson (man, what a name) has always been my favorite. If Scott comes off like a boob, it's because he's a true-believer to the point of oblivion. From facial expressions to anti-Russkie tirades, he's a lot of fun.
I mean, really, after fifty years, it's still bitingly funny. This thing's a keeper.