[year/rating] 1979 PG [genre] War Comedy [director] Steven Spielberg [starring] Dan Aykroyd John Belushi Tim Matheson Ned Beatty

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A Comedy Spectacular!

Summary Capsule

The Japanese decide that after bombing Pearl Harbor, they should bomb Hollywood. If you’re shocked that John Belushi and John Candy are in this, please go to remedial cult movie classes right now.

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Lissa's Rating: John Belushi could definitely play Justin.
Lissa's Review: “Over? Did you say… over? Nothing is over until we say it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?”

"And the first hour is slow. Very slow. Walking through molasses in December slow. Reading War and Peace, watching Ghost Dog, sitting in economics class, watching paint dry — no, wait. The thing about watching paint dry is that it’s pretty straightforward."

The year is 1979, and John Belushi has gradated from college and is now flying straight with the U.S. Army. And he’s learned a few things… or at least, if nothing else, that it was the Japanese that bombed Pearl Harbor, not the Germans. Amazingly, he’s only brought one of his frat brothers (Tim Matheson, aka Otter) along for the ride. (At least, I only caught one.) But half the cast of Saturday Night Live (from the days when it was funny) seems to have joined him in this adventure, including Dan Aykroyd (who eventually also played in Pearl Harbor and Crossroads, so this isn’t saying much) and John Candy.

I’d never even heard of 1941, but when hubby suggested we buy it, I was game. I mean, that’s a pretty funny cast, isn’t it? And Duckie usually has good taste in movies. But I’d forgotten one critical quote, back from when we watched Surviving The Game: “That wasn’t quite as good as I remembered.”

Oh yeah. We’re back THERE again.

1941 does have a very amusing (very non-PC) premise. Pleased with their success at Pearl Harbor, the Japanese decide to bomb another target that has as much honor… Hollywood. However, for some reason (maybe because they’re lost?), only one Japanese sub is on this mission, and this Japanese sub carries Christopher Lee as a Nazi. (Getting why it rated a 5 in bizarre?) There’s also Wally, a swing-dancing kid who wandered into the wrong movie and wants to win the girl from an Army jerk. There’s a general’s assistant trying to seduce a secretary who is really turned on by airplanes. John Belushi literally flies through as a lone wolf Army pilot who is intent on destroying the enemy. All of these people come together to fight the Japanese. Yes, it really is that simplistic.

This could have been a much better movie if it was your standard ninety minutes. But it wasn't. Oh no. It was a full two-and-a-half hours. And the first hour is slow. Very slow. Walking through molasses in December slow. Reading War and Peace, watching Ghost Dog, sitting in economics class, watching paint dry — no, wait. The thing about watching paint dry is that it’s pretty straightforward. This movie was bizarre. It doesn’t sound like it should be, until you remember who all’s in it, and then it makes sense. Well, it makes sense that I thought it was weird, anyway. The plotlines take a long time to come together, and by the time the movie switches back to a plotline you’ve almost forgotten about it.

I’m not going to go on about acting and subtle nuances and everything. Get real. It’s a movie from the late 70’s that has John Belushi. What am I supposed to say? Oscar winning performances all around? Sensitive and realistic portrayals? Nah. Funny? Yeah, okay, I’ll give it that. There were a few points I was howling with laughter. There were also a few times I was staring blankly at the screen.

There are definitely good things about this movie. John Belushi tops the list, and Dan Aykroyd has a great turn as the idealistic soldier (who can’t stand to see Americans fighting Americans, as he says 315 times in the movie). It’s not remotely PC — in fact, I couldn’t put the best quotes up because of the racial slang that was so prevalent throughout the movie. I suppose it makes me a horrible person for laughing, but darn it, some of those lines were really funny. I don’t know that I would have chosen a couple of days after the attack at Pearl Harbor as a time for a comedy, but hey. Why not?

It probably does age much better in the memory. Duckie was pretty sold on the darn thing, and in some ways I can understand why. If you can filter the 90 minute movie out of the two and a half hour mess you’re presented with, it could be good. I just don’t think it should be left up to the viewer to do that!

"To-RA! To-RA! To-RA!"

Didja Notice? [some sources: IMDb]

• The Saturday Night Live reunion?
• Everyone should have an entrance like Belushi.
• Don’t drink and drive a tank.
• The Jaws reference? Amusing, given the fact that Spielberg was involved…

Is It Worth Staying Through End Credits?

Nah

Intermission! [some sources: IMDb]

Both John Wayne and Charlton Heston were offered the role of General Stilwell. Wayne phoned director Steven Spielberg, who had given him the script, and not only turned it down due to ill health but tried to get Spielberg to drop the project. Wayne felt it was unpatriotic and a slap in the face to WWII vets. Heston is thought to have turned it down for the same reasons.

The scene where Wild Bill Kelso slips and tumbles off of the wing of his airplane as he is about to take off was a real accident. John Belushi slipped as he was climbing into the plane. It was kept in the movie because it fit his character.

Spielberg has revealed that he almost made this film a musical.

Groovy Quotes

Japanese soldier: [trying to squeeze a large radio into the sub] We've got to figure out how to make these things smaller!

Ward Douglas: I don't know what they've told you down at the USO, but you're going to be meeting a lot of strange men. Men in uniform. Boys a long way from home, lonely, desperate. They really have one thing on their minds. Show 'em a good time.

Sergeant Frank Tree: If there's one thing I can't stand seeing, it's Americans fighting Americans.

Colonel "Madman" Maddox: Hold your fire, pass it on.

If you liked this movie, try these:

• Animal House
• Blues Brothers
• Pearl Harbor Haha. No.