1941: Why all the hate?

[ghouck]

I've read a couple of negative references to this movie on these boards, and TONS of bad press otherwise, but I like this flick. I think it has quite a bit of humor, both subtle and blatant, but it sure gets a lot of hate. It probably should be better considering all the big names in the cast, but I find it highly enjoyable. Anyone care to clue me in on why so many don't like it.

[schmendrik]

Beats me. I always wondered the same thing about Ishtar (1987). OK, it was ridiculously expensive for the type of movie it was. But it was an OK comedy, not very different from those famously popular "road comedies" of Bob Hope and Bing Crosby. I think people hated it for the price tag ($40M as I recall), not on the merits of the movie itself.

[peter johnson]

In the case of 1941, I'd say it was overkill to no end -- eg. Ferris wheel rolling off the pier, etc. A whole lotta money spent & frantic activity going on & not many laughs.  It was mostly incoherent, with lots of stuff going on that really didn't lead anywhere/no story-line or central plot.  I like the people involved, too, but given Speilberg's track record at the time & given the stars (Belushi, etc.), people were led to expect great things that didn't happen.

Same with Ishtar -- The auction scene in the desert made me laugh, but nothing else in the film did.  I think "Road to Morrocco" is a much funnier film.  Again, I think people found it to be a film with a lot of activity, but not much funny activity.  Again, given Elaine May's collaborations with Mike Nichols and with others in the past, people were expecting big laughs that they didn't get.

peter johnson/denny crane

[ghouck]

See, all the detractors you mentioned I think makes the movie good. I'm surprised anyone had an issue with the ferris wheel, stranger things have happened in more well-received movies. Slim Pickins, Dan Akyroyd, Belushi, Candy, I though they all did well in it, as did Ned. There was alot going on in the movie, but I don't think that was a bad thing. There's quite a bit of subtle humor, like when the Japanese realized Slim Pickets radio wouldn't fit down the hatch in the sub, the guys said "We have to learn to make these smaller". What happened in real life? The Japanese made radios that will do more than Slim's old Telefunken, and fit on a KEYCHAIN.

Anyways, I like the movie, it's all over the map, that's for sure, but it's a good watch IMO.

[The Burgomaster]

I thought 1941 was reasonably funny the first time I saw it.  But it seemed to get dumber and more pointless with each repeat viewing.

[Underbelly]

I saw this movie when it first can out and I remember liking it. Still do! At the time of its release, it was really, really over-hyped. I mean, Spielberg, Belushi and Aykroyd (who were huge at the time), John Candy, Tim Matheson (not that long after Animal House), and the great Japanese actor, Toshirô Mifune and quite a few other name actors. It didn't live up to all the hype, so the critics jumped all over it, as they usually do.

It wasn't the greatest comedy ever, but it's always good for a laugh or two.

[WingedSerpent]

But it seemed to get dumber and more pointless with each repeat viewing.

Man...that applies to a lot of movies I've seen. 

[Menard]

I don't particularly hate this movie, though I don't care for it either.

I think with me it was a good bit of expecting more from this. Combining Spielberg with the cast he'd had onboard, and I was expecting, at least hoping, for a runaway blockbuster. The only thing I found that was a runaway with this was a Ferris Wheel.

It didn't grate me or anything like that, I just didn't like it; it was too much of one thing and not enough of another.

[inframan]

Haven't seen it for years but I remeber it being on cable a lot, and watching it everytime. I always thought it was great but I probally wasn't old enough to  know how "good" it should have been. I always like the guy with the dummy on the ferris wheel and the marines vs sailors fight. I think Belushi was really drunk while filming this.

Where else are you gonna see Slim Pickins, Toshiro Mifune and Christopher Lee in the same movie?

[Torgo]

The 1st half of the movie is a lot funnier than the 2nd half.

But I go agree with  people that this movie suffers from severe overkill at numerous points.  At the same time though, it does make me laugh enough to warrant owning it.   

[JPickettIII]

This might be a movie that you will either love or hate.  That might be were the hate hype is coming from.  I love this movie.  I got it on VHS and watch when I can.  I love the over the topness that is done with the move.  The thought of taking on a sub with a Lee (the tank) is way over the top.  The movie, I thought, put a positive spin on WWII.  Whether you love it or hate, you can not deny the high caliber actors in the movie.  I think if the same movie was made with a different set of actors, the movie would most likely have stunk.

Just my 2.5 cents.

Later,

John

[Jack]

I haven't seen it in many years, but I remember it being fair.  Nothing I'd really watch again.  It just wasn't particularly funny, I think it made me laugh out loud once.

[Justy]

I've always liked the movie. I never really detected any hype over the movie. I think that it is a pretty funny movie. As for being over the top, it is SUPPOSED to be over the top. It's kind of the point of the whole movie. The placement of a howitzer in the guys backyard, the barfight scene, etc. So I am with you in the sentiment that it really should not be beat on.

As for Ishtar, well to be honest, I've never seen it though from the trailers I wasn't really inspired to go out and see it. So when I dump on it, its more in sport than out of any critical nature.

[ER]

I don't have an opinion on why this movie is unpopular, but I did see it not long ago and was struck by how bad John Belushi looked. Bad as in poor health.