The lavish film strives for majesty but misfires. Even though it's littered with corpses, the mood is dulcet to the point of dullness. The titular attack, which spurred America's entrance into World War II, finally occurs midway into the three-hour film. It is almost worth the wait. But before the Japanese onslaught on the U.S. Pacific fleet, we've endured 90 minutes of lackluster romance, directed by Michael Bay as if he can't wait to get to the carnage.
Audiences are likely to feel the same way.
Instead, you snicker at the heavy-handedness. The two best buds grow up and enlist in the military. You realize that Rafe and Evelyn are in love from the way they wistfully gaze at each other from opposite sides of revolving doors another visual that may induce smirks rather than tears. But Rafe flies off on a European mission and is presumed dead. Danny and Evelyn, both mourning Rafe, are brought together under the most honorable of circumstances.