Escape to Victory

Rating: Null/10 (20 August 2009)

There are some movies, few in number, which start off as turkeys in the public consciousness and acquire greatness over time. Some achieve notoriety rather than fame. Some are so awful they fascinate the viewer - a bit like seeing a huge naked woman climb out of the bath (or a huge naked guy if you're a female).
Escape to Victory is a bit of all of these - it's a wonderful movie for trivia buffs (boys night out). Just the concept of Michael Caine, Sylvester Stallone, Max Von Sydow and Pele in the same movie is almost incomprehensible.
This is 'The Great Escape' meets 'Match of the Day' and a bit like 'Godzilla meeting King Kong'. What saves it is the football - the action sequences are generally really well done.
I suspect that 99% of blokes secretly like this movie and 95% of women hate it - another reason for it being a classic of its type.
It came on TV late one night about three months ago. As it was announced my brain went 'Oh No'! I watched it all the way through and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Oscar Wilde said of the death of Little Nell - 'You would have to have a heart of stone not to laugh'. Esacpe to Victory is a bit like that - its conceptual awfulness is so far outweighed by the sheer exuberance and camaraderie of the action.