Funny, uncompromising

Rating: 9/10 (11 September 2005)

The cynical, anarchic spirit of 'Catch-22' is alive and well in 'Kelly's Heroes', an entertaining romp about a group of soldiers who attempt to rob a bank during the closing days of world war two. Aided by a cracking script from Troy Kennedy Martin (better known in Britain for 'Edge of Darkness' and, improbably, 'Dr. Who', but who also scripted the not dissimilar 'Italian Job'), the film manages to reflect the genuine horrors of war, work as a tense thriller, and induce laughter simultaneously. Telly Savalas and Donald Sutherland are both great value, and there's thankfully little screen time for Clint Eastwood (the eponymous Kelly, whom he plays with his usual, tiresome ultra-cool hardman act). Personally, I felt the story could have done with one final plot twist; but in any event, it's still one of the better war films made, for in spite (or maybe even because) of the comedy, it conveys a real sense of what it might be like to fight, and die, without one shred of sanctimoniousness.