Tongue in cheek war film

Rating: 8/10 (23 December 2008)

Kelly's Heroes takes an unusual view on World War II, taking a tongue in cheek, light hearted approach, similar to the book Catch-22.
Kelly's Heroes starts a small unit of American troops capturing a German Intelligence Officer. These troops are war-weary, having to fight hard and yet when their unit is close to any town they are brought back in reserves, so don't get any of the joys of liberating French towns. When looking through the German officer's case Private Kelly (Clint Eastwood) found a gold bar, and after getting the officer drunk he finds out the Germans had $16 Million worth of gold in a bank in Clermont, France. Disillulation with live in the American army, Kelly sets out a darning plan to go 30 miles behind enemy lines and rob the bank.
The film has the feel of a western with the style of its plot and the way it was shot, and at the same time takes some of the best aspects of World War 2 films from the 1960s and 1970s. They are some good action and war scenes through out the film. As well, from a comedy aspect are decent without being too out and out funny, having a more subtle type of humour. It could even be described as a comedy of errors. The best performers in comedy was Donald Sutherland as the stoner tank-commander Oddball and Carroll O'Connor as the bulliest Major General Colt. Clint Eastwood was also on top form as he normally is.
It's worth watching.