No easy push over.

Rating: 6/10 (22 May 2010)

This might not have been one of my favourites by Clint Eastwood, but as it is it remains purely macho entertainment with plenty of crude quips and Eastwood chewing up the scenery with his no-bull attitude. At times it was amusing to wait upon what degrading comment would come out of his mouth towards his rebellious recruits or higher ranking officers. Eastwood as the tough, grizzled and razor tongue Sgt. was perfect for the role.
Gunnery Sgt. Tom Highway is a highly awarded relic of past wars, but is finding himself constantly in trouble with the law with his boozing ways. He's given one more chance which sees him heading back home to train-up a ramshackle recon platoon, while aggravating superiors and hopefully reuniting with his ex-wife.
Very formulaic, but reactionary new breed vs. old dinosaurs format where the times have changed, but when it comes down to it war is war where rules and polices count for nothing when you're trying to survive. Back to traditional planning, which makes a difference when you got someone who knows what they're doing? The platoon's attitude at first is rebellious, until Sgt. Highway puts them though the ringer to show what they can achieve and from this they learn to respect him over time because of what he sees in them despite what other officials have in mind. Most of the film/or narrative spends with Eastwood clashing with superiors, training/motivating his recruits and trying to rekindle his relationship with his ex by trying to understand her. So after the 90 minute mark, the combat hit's the screen and this is where the recruits are thrown right into it with their yahoos being silenced as what they experience truly humbles them. It opens up their eyes to the fact that war isn't games and heroics but looking after your fellow mates by making the right decisions. The exhilarating gunfire is well implemented, but does lack the punch.
Eastwood keeps it nitty-gritty with his economical direction, if maybe a little too long-winded in its length. James Carabatsos's thinly plotted material can play up some comedy elements, but they do fit to what's happening around it. There's also a good commendable cast to boot. Everett McGill as a Major going at loggerheads with Eastwood was a great sight. Mario Van Peebles is quite colourful as one the recruits and Marsha Mason has a lot bite as the ex-flame. There's quite likable support by Eileen Heckart, Arlen Dean Snyder, Boyd Gaines, Tom Villard and a small part for Bo Svenson.