Customer Reviews

The Wackiest Ship in the Army

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I rented this the other day with the full intention of sitting through a rather cheesy comedy from the early 1960s. That is to say, I wasn't expecting much. Jack Lemmon is always a worthwhile watch, and he plays his captain well. And Rick Nelson does a surprisingly effective job of acting, with subtle glances and gestures. Ever the quiet and polite junior officer, you root for the kid with the heart of gold. It is a humorous and entertaining film, with just the right amount of slapstick without becoming too silly, despite the film's title. And there's a bonus...Rick sings in his usual dreamy style. It's good fun for the whole family. Even today.

So many movies from this time frame are just out of step with modern expectations of entertainment. This one is not. It could be re-released and still find a good audience. If you're looking for a good clean movie that tickles the funny bone of parents AND children this is a good choice.

I must admit that this wasn't the totally hilarious film I expected(most of the humor is contained in the first half of the film), but I found it a good story anyway. I like drama and action, especially in war movies, and this film has both. The story is engrossing, and it has some twists and surprises. I highly recommend it to any war movie fans!

If you judged this movie by its title, you might conclude that this was another idiotic, moronic attempt at finding humor in WWII. Not true! this is an entertaining, drama/comedy (there are some humorous scences, but the movie is not slapstick and not like the humor in sit coms). I am not sure if this is based on a true story, but it could have been. The premise is believable. The details of the plot can be found in other reviews.

Yes--the film includes Ricky Nelson, who, while not known as a great actor, does deliver a decent performance. Yes--he does manage to sing one song (his voice is actually fairly good) in the officer's club at the start of the film. The film is mostly Jack Lemmon who does his usual great job. If you don't like Jack Lemmon, you will not like this film.

The real surprise was how good this 1960 film looks on DVD. The transfer is fantastic! Presented in anamorphic widescreen, the picture is sharp and crisp and the colors are perfect! The picture and sound were great on my 46-inch LCD high definition TV, played on a Toshiba 1080p HD DVD player. It is hard to believe that this film was not remastered (there are no claims that it was)--it sure looks that way. The sound is also quite good. Highly recommended!

His is one outstanding film. It is funny, very funny - a real service comedy and it works on several levels. The cast is first rate. Jack Lemmon and Rick Nelson are perfectly cast. A very memorable movie all around. Fond memories.

While I enjoyed parts of this show, it never really came together for me. There were parts that were almost funny, parts that were almost dramatic, and parts that were almost adventurous.

Jack Lenmmons performance in this show doesn't touch his work in "Mister Roberts" or many of his other movies.

If you like adventures and misadventures set in a wartime setting, you may like this one.

This is not a major war movie,but,it is very enjoyable none-the-less.Jack Lemmon plays a much more competent Naval officer than his Oscar winning role as Ensign Pulver in "Mister Roberts".This time he is given an assignment to take a broken down sailing vessel through Japanese held waters for a special mission to deliver an Australian Coast Watcher to his post on an island in enemy waters.The trip is at times comical and at times exciting.Rick Nelson gives his best acting performance since "Rio Bravo" and is more than competent as the second officer.All in all it is a fun and entertaining movie.Recommended for anyone who likes their WW II movies with some comedy as well as action.

I have always loved this movie, Jack Lemmon is at his comic best, but it needs to be re-released in a wide-screen format. A lot of this Cinemascope presentation is lost in the current pan and scan version.

This movie is one that everyone in our family loves to watch! From Dad down to baby, we all find something to enjoy in this movie. Real life isn't all drama or comedy, but a mixture of both, and this movie blends both in an entertaining way. I just wish it was out in DVD!!

For all people who really appreciate a GREAT movie, this is the one. The nostalgia of sailing combined with GREAT acting, great cast and tropical scenery makes this movie one to look at and look for. It is a nice comedy combined with action, WWII piece of history and sailing lessons. Makes a great addition to any movie enthusiast. Highly recommended.