Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
In the days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, panic grips California, where a military officer leads a mob chasing a Japanese sub.
Spielberg's anarchic WWII comedy is a chaotic, overlong spectacle that never quite coheres. The plot is a thin excuse for escalating slapstick set pieces, and the ending dissipates rather than lands. The ensemble cast — Belushi, Aykroyd, Murray, Mifune — brings energy and some genuine laughs, lifting the acting above the material. Cinematography is polished and big-budget for a comedy of this era. Novelty is moderate: the concept of satirizing wartime panic is distinctive but the execution is scattershot and the film feels like a missed opportunity. A fascinating, expensive misfire from a director otherwise known for control.