Dad's Army

Overall, the Dad's Army movie is very funny, although the humour isn't quite as catchy and sparkly as in the TV and radio series. So where does this leave us, the viewers? If you've never seen Dad's Army then the movie is a good way of bringing yourself up to speed and getting hooked on the mad world of Walmington o/S. The downside is that you might not "get it" because, as I said, the humour in the movie is a bit on the stolid side.

For Dad's Army buffs the movie holds nothing new as the story is more or less a cutup of the TV series, but it's a unique chance of seeing your favourites in "high def" as compared to the shitty quality of the BBC video recordings.

The movie also features what must be the lamest holdup sequence in the history of the universe. I can't make up my mind if that's a positive or a negative, though.

TV shows from the 1970's which were turned into films were usually terrible. Dad's Army is the big exception. The formula from the TV show worked just as well on the big screen and with the bigger budget it's lovely to see people walking around Walmington-on-Sea. The plot is similar to parts of some of the TV episodes, but that doesn't matter because they're still as funny. Other parts like when Mainwaring, Wilson and Frazer are stranded on the raft are classic. The only thing I can criticise it for is the sometimes obvious lack of input from the TV shows creators and writers, Jimmy Perry and David Croft. But beautiful performances from Arthur Lowe, John Le Mesurier, Clive Dunn etc.

Perhaps the TV show was just too good, or having the Germans land in Walmington was just too improbable. Whatever, this film version of the much-loved BBC classic doesn't quite work. Everyone in it is fine but it is less slapstick and silly than it was on the small screen, and suffers a bit in comparison. I do like the bit where the stuck up officer sails down river on a bit of broken bridge still sitting on his horse though, and the oil slick machine is pretty funny!

There is something of the swings and roundabouts in this adaptation of the cracking BBC series. On the one hand, the feature length format allows us to develop more the Perry/Croft characters, on the other it removes some of the quickly-paced potency of the humour... Either way, though, it's still an hugely enjoyable watch that reconciles great sitcom writing from these two literal geniuses with a cast and scenario that delivers potent reminders of just how those "left on the shelf" determined to make a valuable contribution to the protection of their country against the Nazi scourge. It has the same cast as the television series, and depicts the formation of their unit under the command of nitwit "Capt. Mainwaring" (Arthur Lowe). The film has a more comically militaristic theme to it - they drill, eventually with firearms (not a great idea in their gas-powered, converted, butcher's van!) before they find themselves engaged in manoeuvres under the watchful eye of the slightly bumptious "Gen. Fullard" (Bernard Arched). Of course, just about everything goes wrong - but the humour is genuinely funny; the dialogue subtly enhances what we can not only see, but frequently anticipate - and that adds bundles to the enjoyment of this. Again, it swipes at the pomposity of the upper classes, the aspiration of a newly establishing middle class and of the industriousness of the chancer - expertly epitomised by "Hodges" - part time warden/greengrocer and black-marketeer "Pte. Walker" (James Beck). The film does rehash a little of the original innovation, but it's still a great spirited depiction of some really courageous folks who did their bit!

I have to say that some of the other reviews of this film I have read show very little understanding of it or the original TV series it stemmed from. Dad's Army was a sitcom and therefore had humour and so is bound to have put a smile on the face of the dire situation. However the series carried very many serious messages such as the episode 'Branded' about the bigotry and ignorance that was attached to conscientious objectors. The film was faithful to the series and was simply like an extended episode. So I'm afraid the reviewer who claimed that Columbia improved the humour was quite wrong and let's face it - the BBC sitcoms of this period beat anything that came out of America hands down. Also comments referring to propaganda were also way off the mark. The Homeguard were people considered unfit for frontline service who still wished to serve. They were very brave men who knew they were sentenced to death as soon as they signed up as Hitler announced that anyone who did so would be executed if and when Britain was invaded. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to set the record straight as it is always good to actually speak and comment on what has been seen rather making it up as you go along I find.