Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Unsung CLASSIC Of American Comedy!, January 2, 2003
With "Viva Max!" director Jerry Paris(best known for directing numerous episodes of "The Dick Van Dyke Show")took the skills he had finely tuned for television(sharp, clever, fast-paced comedy)and brought them to The Big Screen. What makes this film such a stand-out from his work in television is that he was successfully able to combine these said skills with social and political themes, creating a film that is both hysterically funny and fast-paced, yet filled with MUCH "Food For Thought".As a person who hails from BOTH the cultures(Texas Anglo and Mexican-American)depicted in this story, I could relate to the REAL significance of this film. Upon initial viewing, one may only see it as a clever, fast-paced comedy, well-acted by a STERLING cast(indeed, I think John Astin's performance as Sgt. Valdez ranks among the FINEST of his ENTIRE career). Upon REPEATED viewings however, one can start to recognize FAR MORE to both script and cast of characters, than was initially apparent. The DEPTH of personality(particularly in Astin's and Ustinov's characters)simply DEMANDS repeated viewings to REALLY appreciate. They are complex:both inept and ludicrous, yet oddly courageous, stoic and ultimately WISE in their "Military Conquest" of Anglo-America! Comedian Jonathan Winters turns in THE performance of a lifetime as the good-natured, befuddled brigadeer general of the Texas National Guard, chosen as a liason between the Mexican Army and the Texas Anglos. Want to know what Texans are REALLY like? FORGET "King Of The Hill" and WATCH THIS FILM!
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17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Funny funny irreverent but funny., March 22, 1999
This was PBS' Jim Lehrer's first book. The movie, now a video, starred some greats of the past. One almost has to feel sad for General Maxmillian at the end of the story but he most certainly 'saves face' and becomes a hero to his men. One of the most enjoyable books I have ever read and absolutely one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. You'll watch it again and again. Hope you'll tell me I was right!
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good '60s comedy that hasn't lost its relevance, December 27, 2007
Others have mentioned outstanding performances by Peter Ustinov and Jonathan Winters. I'll also call out John Astin, Harry Morgan, Alice Ghostley and Keenan Wynn -- all fabulous character actors who add terrific depth to the film.
It's interesting that this '60s cold war spoof remains relevant today. Border security, illegal immigrants, right-wing paranoia and paramilitaries are all there, and all still in the news.
This is not a great comedy in the vein of "Dr Strangelove", but it's certainly a very good one, of the same quality as "The Russians are Coming".
Film gets four stars, but the VHS print gets three (or maybe two and a half). My complaint (and it's not a minor one) is that the VHS seems to have been made from the print edited for TV, and thus the word that the whole story turns on has been silenced in this version. The insult hurled at the general was that his men would not even follow him into a whore house. The word "whore" was cut out of this print, leaving a meaningless sentence and a weak insult that doesn't motivate the story. You'll have to fill in the word yourself, when the time comes.
Even with that glaring flaw, it's worth searching out the videotape. I don't know that this one would be attractive enough to a studio for reissue on DVD, but it would sure be nice to see it in widescreen, with better color and with the offending word restored.
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