McHale's Navy (1997)

Wonderful character development!

Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

Excellent adaptation.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Quinton McHale (Tom Arnold) is in the Navy on a lush Caribbean island, lucky duck. Surrounding him are his men, including Ensign Parker (David Alan Grier) and a host of others (one is French Stewart). Not really having a lot to do, McHale runs a side business in pin-up calendars while the swabs under him bunk in hammocks outside, instead of the stuffy barracks. Alas, the Navy gets wind of this and sends a new, no-nonsense but weird Captain, Cap Binghamton (Dean Stockwell) and his true believer Lieutenant Carpenter (Debra Messing), to "clean up the ship". This upsets all, naturally. Meanwhile, a German spy (Tim Curry) is set to capture the same island for the Commie Homeland. The Captain is blind to this coming takeover, so its up to McHale and company to thwart these doings. Our Mac also gets help from a secret Navy General (Ernest Borgnine). Whoa, and perhaps Carpenter is falling for McHale and about to switch sides! What will be the finale? This light-hearted, fun film will be a silly mood lifter for those who view it. What could really be better than that in this world? The cast is terrific, with Stockwell very comedic and Arnold, Stewart, Messing, Grier, and all of the others backing him up nicely. How great to see Borgnine, too, as he was the original McHale as we all know. The scenery of the islands is wonderful, like paradise on earth, while the script and direction are up to snuff, , albeit not likely to win awards. Join this Navy, do, and you will be a contented soul.

I am a fan of McHale's Navy, and since i enjoy watching the original series, I thought I'd see the movie, until I saw the cast. Tom Arnold as McHale, wow that started to kill my interest, then I saw Tim Curry, that killed it even more. David Allen Grier, who I like don't get me wrong, but as Ensign Parker, who is white, that kills the originality of the film because in order for it to be McHale's Navy, everyone who takes the role has to fit the part from the original series, so that means race, and gender, etc. Then a female as Captain Binghampton's aid, who is supposed to be a male, named Elroy Carpenter. French Stewart as Happy, and Happy is fat and bald, and I don't think French is, there isn't Fuji, there isn't Tinker, so they should have made a different name for the film because this isn't what the title says it is; it's not McHale's Navy, its someone else's Navy.

I know most people hate McHale's navy, but I really don't care. I thought it was pretty funny. Tim Curry was really good as the villain, Vladikov (the #2 best terrorist in the world). Bruce Campbell is pretty good. David Allen Grier was, as usual, great as Ens. Charles T. Parker.I'd never seen the original series, but I'm glad that they had Ernest Borgnine, the original McHale, as Cobra.And, last, but DEFFINITELY not least, Tom Arnold. I used to watch Roseanne, and always liked his obnoxious humor. It's even better in McHale's Navy. He's got some unique style, that guy.Well, I've chatted long enough.PS. Tim Curry and Tom Arnold had both been in an episode of Roseanne.

What a load of crap! This movie was sad on to many levels to list, and I actually have a friend who bought the damn thing! I give him crap everytime I see him, don't worry. Tom Arnold works in supporting comedy roles (True Lies) but as the star, he is woefully lacking. Just Terrible.