Funny sets pieces - but rather thrown together.

Rating: 8/10 (27 April 2003)

Woody plays a condemned man who, despite being a coward, has played a major role in the Napoleonic wars. His tale is told in flashback as he waits to be "saved" by forces unknown. Diane Keaton plays his reluctant love interest.
Early vintage WA that bites off a lot and manages to chew most it, maybe with a bit of light choking here and there!
Clearly a satire on War and Peace and heavyweight Russian novels generally, it actually has high production values and even exciting battle scenes (the Polish army working on the cheap). After this Allen vowed never to work outside of New York City again - something he has kept to!
For the benefit of newcomers, this is the anything-for-a-laugh Woodie that aimed at the mainstream audience. The screaming black sergeant (pre An Officer and a Gentleman!) is my favourite (Officer {Screaming}: "You love the army don't you solider? You want to make the army your career, don't you soldier?" Allen {Laconic}: "Hey, hey, let's not get carried away!") and even throws in a few moments of slapstick with Napoleon himself.
Easy laughs about easy targets it may be (and what little that is left can be cribbed from Bob Hope) but a very enjoyable movie. While far too hastily arranged and edited to be anything more than a time filler, it still delivers a plot and laughs - and is, moreover, the kind of film the general cinema audience would like to see Allen making today!