While getting through the opening credits I was amazed to discover that this movie was 'adapted from a play'. The film not only has the look and feel of a play, it also has the look and feel of a bare boned TV test pilot episode of M*A*S*H* that has gone terribly, terribly wrong. However, if you've never seen any Martin & Lewis films, this film is a good place to start. The reason it's a good place to start is because after this film, the films can only get better.
While 'At War With The Army' is not a classic comedy, it does feature a handful of chuckles that hold a mild interest. You get to see a glimpse of Martin & Lewis' stage act, something you would see put to better effect some time later in 'The Caddy'. There are a couple of Dean Martin musical numbers for the fans of Dino and for the Lewis fans there's tons and tons of facial expressions, mimicry and cross dressing.
Although the film formula for the Martin & Lewis movies never strayed too far from their "Straight Man/Idiot" routine, what is a little surprising here is how mean the character of Sgt. Puccinelli (Dean Martin) is to Pfc. Alvin Korwin (Jerry Lewis) throughout the film. Because of his attitude towards Lewis, Martin comes off mainly as boorish and self-centered. This doesn't do Martin any favors when he sings his songs at the nightclub or in the recording studio; you just want something really bad to happen to him. One wonders if Hal Walker (the director) forgot he was making a comedy. Making Martin's character such an a-hole seems to be a cheap way to make the audience feel sympathy for Lewis' character.
Well, that would be fine, but remember, this is Jerry Lewis in 'At War With The Army', not Harpo Marx in 'A Night At The Opera'. Lewis isn't naturally lovable like Harpo; Lewis becomes irritating in almost every film he's ever been in, that's his charm, right? What makes the other films of Martin & Lewis work is that Dean sticks up for Lewis; he's even amused by him to some extent. There's no reason for Martin to dislike Lewis so much in this film. I could understand the friction between their characters in 'The Stooge', but here his hatred has no merit. I mean isn't it enough that Lewis is playing this 'Cinderella' type of character, can't we feel for him enough as it is? Making Dino such a heavy in the film just to give Lewis some sympathy from the audience was a mistake. Walker should've made them to be best friends that climbed up through the army ranks at different speeds. Dino is on the fast track because he's a likable and able soldier and Lewis is on the longer track because he's a born potato peeler and mop swabber. Remember, the title is 'At War With The Army', not 'At War With Pfc. Alvin Korwin'.
Pointing out all of the silly forms to sign and army procedures is what works best in the film. It never hits too hard with its army satire, but it does effectively point out the wasteful and mindless protocol that has to be followed and how this protocol sets up power structures within the ranks. Again, it comes off as a bare boned TV test pilot of M*A*S*H*.
THE MOMENT WHERE YOU CRINGE:
Lewis says under the pressure while being bullied by the high-ranking officers at training camp that, "concentration camp has got to be better than this". Hmmm well, that's a pretty offensive line. However, I think this line takes on a whole new meaning when one remembers that some twenty years later Lewis would try to make a comedy that takes place in a German concentration camp (The Day The Clown Cried).
The best moment comes when Martin & Lewis do a scene from 'Going My Way' with Martin as Bing Crosby and Lewis as Barry Fitzgerald. It comes off as surprisingly touching, if not just a little out of place. You also think to yourself, "why wasn't the rest of this movie anywhere as good as this?"
Recommended viewing only for inclusive film collectors, fans of Lewis & Martin or very young children.
6/10. Clark Richards
While 'At War With The Army' is not a classic comedy, it does feature a handful of chuckles that hold a mild interest. You get to see a glimpse of Martin & Lewis' stage act, something you would see put to better effect some time later in 'The Caddy'. There are a couple of Dean Martin musical numbers for the fans of Dino and for the Lewis fans there's tons and tons of facial expressions, mimicry and cross dressing.
Although the film formula for the Martin & Lewis movies never strayed too far from their "Straight Man/Idiot" routine, what is a little surprising here is how mean the character of Sgt. Puccinelli (Dean Martin) is to Pfc. Alvin Korwin (Jerry Lewis) throughout the film. Because of his attitude towards Lewis, Martin comes off mainly as boorish and self-centered. This doesn't do Martin any favors when he sings his songs at the nightclub or in the recording studio; you just want something really bad to happen to him. One wonders if Hal Walker (the director) forgot he was making a comedy. Making Martin's character such an a-hole seems to be a cheap way to make the audience feel sympathy for Lewis' character.
Well, that would be fine, but remember, this is Jerry Lewis in 'At War With The Army', not Harpo Marx in 'A Night At The Opera'. Lewis isn't naturally lovable like Harpo; Lewis becomes irritating in almost every film he's ever been in, that's his charm, right? What makes the other films of Martin & Lewis work is that Dean sticks up for Lewis; he's even amused by him to some extent. There's no reason for Martin to dislike Lewis so much in this film. I could understand the friction between their characters in 'The Stooge', but here his hatred has no merit. I mean isn't it enough that Lewis is playing this 'Cinderella' type of character, can't we feel for him enough as it is? Making Dino such a heavy in the film just to give Lewis some sympathy from the audience was a mistake. Walker should've made them to be best friends that climbed up through the army ranks at different speeds. Dino is on the fast track because he's a likable and able soldier and Lewis is on the longer track because he's a born potato peeler and mop swabber. Remember, the title is 'At War With The Army', not 'At War With Pfc. Alvin Korwin'.
Pointing out all of the silly forms to sign and army procedures is what works best in the film. It never hits too hard with its army satire, but it does effectively point out the wasteful and mindless protocol that has to be followed and how this protocol sets up power structures within the ranks. Again, it comes off as a bare boned TV test pilot of M*A*S*H*.
THE MOMENT WHERE YOU CRINGE:
Lewis says under the pressure while being bullied by the high-ranking officers at training camp that, "concentration camp has got to be better than this". Hmmm well, that's a pretty offensive line. However, I think this line takes on a whole new meaning when one remembers that some twenty years later Lewis would try to make a comedy that takes place in a German concentration camp (The Day The Clown Cried).
The best moment comes when Martin & Lewis do a scene from 'Going My Way' with Martin as Bing Crosby and Lewis as Barry Fitzgerald. It comes off as surprisingly touching, if not just a little out of place. You also think to yourself, "why wasn't the rest of this movie anywhere as good as this?"
Recommended viewing only for inclusive film collectors, fans of Lewis & Martin or very young children.
6/10. Clark Richards